Because of Winn-Dixie

An unforgettable first novel about coming of age one sweet summerΓÇöand learning to love what you have. The summer Opal and her father,the preachermove to NaomiFloridaOpal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarketΓÇöand comes out with a dog. A biguglysuffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixiethe preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent motherone for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever knownand together they meet the local librarianMiss Franny Blockwho once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They meet Gloria Dumpwho is nearly blind but sees with her heartand Otisan ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hoursthen 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 grownOpal learns to let gojust a littleand that friendshipΓÇöand forgivenessΓÇöcan sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm. Recalling the fiction of Harper Lee and Carson McCullershere is a funnypoignantand utterly genuine first novel from a major new talent.