Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo
Fiction, Middle-Grade, Realistic-Fiction, Young-Adult, Classics, Animals
The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket—and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar. Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship—and forgiveness—can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm Kate DiCamillo’s first published novel, like Winn-Dixie himself, immediately proved to be a keeper—a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor winner, the inspiration for a popular film, and most especially, a cherished classic that touches the hearts of readers of all ages.
Recommendations from Common Sense Media
Age Recommendation: 9+
What Parents Need to Know:
Parents need to know that Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo‘s lovely novel about 10-year-old Opal and the stray dog that changes her life, is a charming story full of quirky characters and sweet friendships. There’s a melancholy veil over Opal’s story, because her mother abandoned her, but that also helps her to feel empathy for friends who have experienced loss and sorrow. Whiskey, beer, and wine are mentioned because Opal’s mother used to drink to excess. Gloria Dump used to drink as well — the empties hanging from trees in her backyard represent past transgressions, including drinking — but that’s in the past and predates the time of this story. Parents should also note that the town librarian, Miss Franny, tells Opal that the Civil War was fought over slavery and “states’ rights” and recommends that Opal read Gone with the Wind, a book that perpetuates racist stereotypes. On the whole, however, this novel is a heartwarming story about outcasts who find solace in friendship, and it will make every lonely kid want a dog. It was made into a film in 2005.
Educational Value: 1/5
Because Winn-Dixie is terrified of thunder and of being left alone, readers will learn about how dogs behave when they’re afraid. Opal also learns what “pathological fear” is and what “melancholy” means. She reads Gone with the Wind to Gloria Dump and shares a bit about the theme and plot.
Positive Messages: 5/5
Be open-hearted and gentle, because most people have their own secret sorrows. The Preacher says a prayer to bless Opal and Gloria’s garden party that expresses an essential message of the book: “Dear God, thank you for warm summer nights and candlelight and good food. But thank you most of all for friends. We appreciate the complicated and wonderful gifts you give us in each other. And we appreciate the task you put down before us, of loving each other the best we can, even as you love us.” Gloria tells Opal, “You can’t always judge people by the things they done. You got to judge them by what they are doing now.”
Positive Role Models: 4/5
Opal learns, with help from her unusual dog and some caring adults, to look for the good in others. She learns to try to understand rather than judge.
Violence & Scariness: n/a
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Sex, Romance & Nudity: n/a
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Language: n/a
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Products & Purchases: 1/5
Winn-Dixie is named after the supermarket where Opal found him. So, the brand name is used throughout the book, but it’s almost exclusively in reference to the dog, not the store.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking: 1/5
The Preacher reveals to Opal that Opal’s mother used to drink beer, whiskey, and wine, and “Sometimes she couldn’t stop drinking.” Gloria Dump also has a history of drinking, and she hung the empty bottles hanging in the back of her garden to remind her of past bad behavior, at least partly under the influence of alcohol.
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