Because of Winn-Dixie

                                      By Kate Dicamillo

Because of Winn-Dixie, a 2000 Newberry Honor award winner, takes readers of all ages on a journey through the eyes of a ten-year old girl during a hot summer in the small, southern town of Naomi, Florida.  It is during this summer, Idia- Opal learns several of life's hard lessons all while developing relationships (with both people and her beloved dog, Winn-Dixie) she will never forget. During the first half of the novel, the reader gets to know Opal, her family, her background, and her attitudes. Opal is an only child, in a single parent household.  She refers to few father as "the preacher" due to a harbored resentment surrounding the absence of her mother. Her father is a preacher at a small, make-shift church and is so preoccupied with his own feelings of loss, he often "blocks" those around him out of his "own world" of grief.  Opal compares his behavior with that of a turtle hiding in its shell. At the beginning of the summer, Opal is lonely, bored, and contemplating the reasons for her mother's absence. It isn't until she meets Winn-Dixie that her life and attitudes begin to change. 

Opal finds an abandoned dog at the grocery store who she names Winn-Dixie (the name of the store). Opal relates to Winn-Dixie because he too was abandoned and looked like he was in need of love and care.  Both Opal and her father immediately fall in love with Winn-Dixie and accept him as a member of their family.  The only downfall to Winn-Dixie's arrival is the fact that he is terrified of thunderstorms and runs around crazily when he hears thunder. Winn-Dixie's fear of thunderstorms mirrors Opal's fear of abandonment.  Both provide comfort to each other when this fear emerges in the story. 

Winn-Dixie broadens Opal's circle of friends (or lack there of) throughout the summer. Opal spends her time volunteering at a pet store with a man named Otis, listening to stories from the town librarian Miss Franny, reading to her neighbor Gloria, and conversing with the only other children in town, Sweetie Pie, Amanda and the Dewberry boys. Each character plays a role in the development of the story based on a certain flaw or circumstance. This flaw serves as the underlying foundation for the character's relationship with Opal. For example, Opal is able to relate to Gloria because Gloria is a recovering alcoholic who hangs bottles from a tree in her yard that represent the "ghosts" in her past that continue to haunt her.  Opal's mother was an alcoholic so Opal is able to understand Gloria's "mistakes of her past" that are represented by the "ghosts." Opal accepts Gloria, flaws and all, and they develop a strong friendship by the end of the book. 

The ending offers a resolution to immediate and ongoing problems/struggles in the plot.  Opal has learned the value of friendship, love, and acceptance.  She even begins calling her father "daddy" instead of "the preacher" which represents the various changes in her attitudes and view of life.  Winn-Dixie's character transitions from Opal's main source of comfort to "one of the crowd" of loved ones in her life. The sincerity and genuine writing style of the author makes it evident why this book received a Newberry Honor Medal.