MMGM (6/12/2017): Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

For MMGM, I am recommending Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.




Here's the description from the back of the book:

When ten-year-old India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida, with her father, she doesn't know what to expect — least of all that she'll adopt Winn-Dixie, a dog she names after the supermarket where they meet. With such an unusually friendly dog at her side, Opal soon finds herself making more than a few unusual friends. And soon, Opal and her father realize — with a little help from Winn-Dixie, of course — that while they've both tasted a bit of melancholy in their lives, they still have a whole lot to be thankful for.

One of the best parts about Because of Winn-Dixie is the varied lineup of characters, all of whom are central to the book. Some much younger than Opal and some much older, all of them have their own voices and troubles. Even Winn-Dixie is so well described, he seems to come to life. The book has several lessons in it, such as the importance of ignoring people's past actions and focusing on their present ones, or even just the awfulness of wars. The main character, Opal, has a great voice, and her backstory of having a mother who is not dead, but has left, is refreshing. The book is a short, quick read (being much shorter than another book by DiCamillo that I recommended, Raymie Nightingale) that is very enjoyable and not too sad. Anyone who reads Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor Book), whether child or adult, is sure to love it as much as I did!

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Comments

  1. Natalie AguirreJune 11, 2017 at 3:41 AM

    I remember reading this and loving it. So agree with you about Opal being a great character.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Greg PattridgeJune 12, 2017 at 4:48 AM

    I reviewed this book a few years back. So many memorable scenes in the story. Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite writers. Thanks for the flashback.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Patricia T.June 12, 2017 at 6:56 AM

    I never read the book, but saw the movie and loved it. I should probably take the time to read it. It's a classic.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 12, 2017 at 1:09 PM

    A great book and a really good movie - make excellent teaching materials for middle grade. Thanks so much for the review!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joanne R. FritzJune 13, 2017 at 5:16 PM

    This is one of my favorite MG novels! It has so much going for it: memorable characters, great plot, and gorgeous writing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. RosiJune 13, 2017 at 8:54 PM

    It definitely is a wonderful book. I read it a few years ago and really loved it. Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete

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