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Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo She found him in a grocery store, the Winn-Dixie grocery store, where her daddy had sent her to buy some macaroni and cheese, white rice, and two tomatoes. Dogs weren't allowed in the grocery store, especially big dirty dogs. When the manager screamed , "Somebody grab that dog!" Opal found herself telling everyone that the dog was hers. It must have been the way that mutt smiled at her. That's how a close bond of friendship started between Opal and Winn-Dixie. The dog's smile had an uncanny effect on everyone he met. He won over Opal's dad, the preacher, right away, too. Ever since Opal and her dad had moved to Naomi, Florida, Opal had been lonely. Winn-Dixie was good company, and he had a way with people. Before long Opal had a job at the pet store and she has begun to make friends with some people. Not with the kids, as you might expect, but with some of the town's elder, and odder some said, residents. There's Otis from the pet store (a musical ex-con), Miss Franny Block (spinster librarian who likes to tell people stories), and Gloria Dump (folks call her a witch, but she's just an old lady who likes to garden). There's a lot to learn about life when you're 10 years old, but Opal has some wonderful teachers. From Franny Block she learns about the joy and sorrow that are both a part of life, and from Gloria Dump she learns to judge people based on what they so now, not the past. And then there's Winn-Dixie with his uncanny canine smile: he teaches her about love. What makes this book special isn't just the characters, though they are wonderful. I especially liked Opal's dad, the gentle preacher who can't get over his wife who left him, and Opal herself. She's curious. She knows instinctively when something or someone is special. But what I think sets this story apart is the quality of the writing. DiCamillo reminds me of Katherine Paterson - and that's high praise. Like those famous Littmus Lozenges, this story is full of the sweet and the sorrowful, but whatever the author's secret ingredient, the story itself is a wonderful treat to be savoured.
Because of Winn-Dixie is Kate DiCamillo's first novel. It is a Newbery Honor Book (2001) and made the NY Time bestseller list! The author resided in the South for much of her childhood and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. According to the author, “The book is (I hope) a hymn of praise to dogs, friendship, and the South.” Currently, Kate DiCamillo lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. |
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