Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Because of Winn-Dixie is the story of a ten-year-old girl, Opal, who recently moved to a small town in Florida with her father. Shortly after getting there, Opal wanders into a grocery store to find a dog wreaking havoc. She quickly claims the stray dog as her own, calling the dog Winn-Dixie.

Winn-Dixie promptly becomes Opal’s shadow and the two meet all kinds of people together around town–largely because of Winn-Dixie. From here, the larger story becomes a string of shorter stories in different places around town–the library, the pet shop, Gloria’s house, and the church where Opal’s father is the preacher. The reader gets to know each of the characters in these places Opal and Winn-Dixie visit in endearing and often comical ways. Throughout these visits with people in town, Opal realizes how deeply she aches for her mother that left years ago. She learns about others’ sufferings in life–even coming to a better understanding of her father.

The story ultimately culminates with a get-together with all the characters. During the party, a thunderstorm hits and Winn-Dixie takes off in fear. Opal and her father, aka “the preacher,” look everywhere for Winn-Dixie in the pouring rain and end up talking about Opal’s mother–something she’d been too scared to ask about before. In the end, Winn-Dixie is found back at the party, community is cultivated, and Opal has people she can rely on in her new home.

Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Read Aloud Age: 8+

Because of Winn-Dixie is truly a wonderful book full of opportunities to teach our kids that everybody is suffering in their own way. Opal is often relatable and the reader can’t help but love Winn-Dixie. It’s engaging, heart-warming, and teaches truths about how to treat people and why people are the way they are sometimes.

I loved reading this and I’ll introduce my kids to it, but it’s definitely one I’ll read either to or with them. You won’t want to miss the opportunities I mentioned above, but you may also want to go deeper and explain why we seek to understand others and treat them well–because we are image bearers of God Himself. There are also a few things you may want to discuss/correct with your kids as you read. One thing that really stuck out to me was a character telling Opal that the most important thing can be different for everyone, but from a biblical perspective, the gospel is actually the most important thing for everyone.

Language: There’s some name calling between kids (pinch-faced, bald-headed babies, ignorant, retarded, etc.). However, it’s always viewed negatively. A woman is referred to as a witch in the magical sense, but she is later revealed to obviously not be one. There’s also some figurative language that may need to be explained, as “ghosts of the pasts” are referred to in the story that are not actual ghosts.

Questionable Behaviors: There are references to alcohol and alcoholism in the story, but it is always referred to negatively. One of the characters has whiskey and beer bottles hanging from a tree in her backyard representing “ghosts of her past”. Kids also name-call a bit, as mentioned in the language section. It’s also noteworthy that Opal lies to begin the story when she claims Winn-Dixie is her dog, though obviously a stray.

Other Things to Know: This book talks about some heavy stuff: someone getting shot in the civil war, family members dying, Opal’s mother leaving, developmental delays, jail time, alcoholism, and a child drowning. The topics aren’t delved into deeply, but they are mentioned, some more than once. It’s part of how Opal learns to understand that everyone has their own pain. Opal also has a non-existent relationship with her mother and a strained relationship with her father–though that relationship grows significantly throughout the book. You know your child best and when they’re ready to handle mentions of these topics.

Overall, I’d say this book is worth reading with your kids and offers many opportunities to talk about the gospel and how to live it out. The heavy topics are talked about without too much detail and can easily be used to teach our children that, no matter our past, we are redeemable image bearers of God.

This review is written by contributor, Mary S. To find out more about Mary, click HERE.

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