This week I'm featuring one of my favorite tween books:
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamilloFrom Barnes and Noble
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. With the help of her new pal, whom she names Winn-Dixie, Opal makes a variety of new, interesting friends and spends the summer collecting stories about them and thinking about her absent 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.
I love this book. It is one of the sweetest quietest books out there. Opal is a little girl you can't help but cheer for, and who couldn't love an old scruffy dog afraid of storms. I read this to my classes and few years ago. I prefeced it with the fact that my job as an English teacher was to expose them to stories they might not pick for themselves, and this book was an example of that. I said it wouldn't have car chases and nonstop action, but it would have some laughter, kindness and characters that grow and change. They got into it and picked up on things I missed.
If you haven't read this book - read it. Then watch the movie. It's the one movie out there that did the book justice.
I saw the film. You have me thinking I should check out the book as well.
ReplyDeleteI just bought the book recently at a library book sale. Lovely review, I can't wait to read it!!
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