Book Review: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

“You can’t always judge people by the things they done. You got to judge them by what they are doing now.”

Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie

Review:

Because of Winn-Dixie was one of my favorite movies growing up. I’ve probably had the book sitting on my shelf since childhood, and I know I attempted to read it at least once, but it took until adulthood to finally sit down and give it a proper read. 

Being the new girl in town is never easy, but India Opal finds being the new girl when you’re the preacher’s daughter particularly lonely. That is, until she finds a stray dog running loose in the grocery store, whom she affectionately names Winn-Dixie. With Winn-Dixie’s natural ability to make friends, by the end of the summer, everyone in Naomi feels a little less lonely. 

I was surprised to see how closely the movie follows the book. Any changes were minimal and didn’t affect the plot and furthered the character development. I’m impressed! But in the book, I particularly loved the scene toward the end with Opal and the preacher. It was so great to finally read it.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• The vulnerability of the store, exploring themes of grief, abandonment, addiction, death, etc. in a way that isn’t scary for young readers, but also not avoidant.
• Raw, but a feel-good store.
• All of the character development.

What I didn’t like:

• I wish the book were longer. I actually find that the movie goes into more depth.

Afterthoughts:

This was the perfect, cozy summer read!

Where to buy the book: