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Because of Winn-Dixie (Paperback) (平装)
by Kate DiCamillo
| Category:
Award-winning, Fiction, Ages 9-12, Children's books |
| Market price: ¥ 88.00
MSL price:
¥ 78.00
[ Shop incentives ]
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
MSL Pointer Review:
An unforgettable first novel about coming of age one sweet summer-and learning to love what you have.
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 8 items |
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Karen Hesse (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
Take one disarmingly engaging protagonist and put her in the company of a tenderly rendered canine, and you've got yourself a recipe for the best kind of down-home literary treat. Kate DiCamillo's voice in Because of Winn-Dixie should carry from the steamy, sultry pockets of Florida clear across the miles to enchant young readers everywhere. |
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Rachel Elaine (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
After hearing about this book and the movie based on the story, I finally decided to read it and found the book to be a sweet and enjoyable page-turner. An adult can easily read it within a couple of hours and appreciate its light and sometimes humorous fare as a change of pace from their probable, typical reading selections. As told from the perspective of a ten-year old girl, the story is relate-able for children but refreshing for any age or gender.
"Just about everything that happened to me that summer, happened because of Winn-Dixie." (the beginning sentence of Chapter Nine) The author, obviously knowing dogs and their behaviors and characteristics, begins this story with a stray and mangy dog, Winn-Dixie, adopted by a little girl and her father, who just moved into the town. The different characters of the story, in some ways, like Winn-Dixie, became transformed when they "adopted" each other as they joined together and found their way out of sadness, isolation, loss or loneliness.
With good points made about love and becoming less judgmental, I thought this was an idyllic and charming story.
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Robert Beveridge (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie (Candlewick, 2000)
My sister-in-law (who is ten) picked this up at Borders one day last week, and while she, my wife, and my daughter were off shopping, I picked it up. I had it finished by the time sister-in-law left that evening; it's a very quick read.
Like most people, I guess, I assumed that the book (and the rather successful, if released to mixed reviews, movie based upon it) was about the grocery store chain, and wondered to what depths corporate America wouldn't sink. What a pleasant surprise to find out Winn-Dixie is actually a dog (named after the grocery store chain, so I'm still wondering about corporations and depths, but at least they were half-subtle about it if there's a marketing conspiracy to be had here). The story concerns Opal, a new girl in town, who adopts a stray dog after he gets inside a Winn-Dixie supermarket where she's doing some shopping. The dog, being a naturally affectionate sort, helps her get socialized in her new situation.
It's a simple story, aimed at the 9-12 crowd, and wonderfully written. DiCamillo conveys the characters' emotions without beating us over the head with them, and so crafts a far more powerful tale than most in this genre. Highly recommended. |
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Glenn Harden (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
This is a heartwarming story of how a little community of lonely people forms around a friendly and ugly stray dog. All of the characters possess a bit of wisdom of their own, but as they come together in friendship they all grow a bit. At the heart of the story, however, is the relationship between a father and daughter who are both dealing with deep pain resulting from their wife/mother having abandoned them seven years earlier. The book chronicles their movement toward hope and redemption with the help of that friendly dog. Even adults risk some moist eyes, but dog-lovers need not fear (too much). I highly recommend this book to children and young adults and especially to elementary and middle school libraries.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
Teachers of 3rd to 5th graders would definitely do their students a favor by promoting this book. It is a touching and humorous story about a young girl named Opal forced to deal with the absense of her mother, a distraught preacher father, and the difficulty of making friends. She finally makes some friends with the help of a stray mutt that comes into her life. She names him Winn Dixie after the grocery store where she finds him. She takes him home to meet her dad and begs him to let her keep him. The dog's charms immediately melt his heart and help him start feeling more joy and connection to his daughter whom he has been emotionally distant from ever since his wife left. Opal learns to make friends with people who are considered outcasts. What I learned most from the book is the importance of not judging someone based on their outward appearance or on rumors and gossip. You have to take people as you find them, and give them a chance to show their true selves. That requires patience, faith, and forgiveness. I think this book would be great for the 8-11 year old crowd, because they are just leaving their childhood innocence and starting to become "wordly" and judge and fear others based on superficial things. However, I think it appeals to adults as well. This would be a great book for grandparents to read with their grandkids. I don't think this book would be appropriate for a kid under 8, though.
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J. Hamer (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
This story is a charming slice of life in a small town down south. A young girl named Opal finds a ratty, mangy mutt wreaking havoc inside a grocery store and the rest is history. She names the mutt Winn-Dixie and cleans him up as well as she can, although he still looks somewhat ratty! Since Opal is fairly new in town, she really doesn't know many people in town. Winn-Dixie changes this and eventually *because of Winn-Dixie* Opal attracts the attention of a few eccentric locals who become her friends. Winn-Dixie's presence in Opal's life also results in the strengthening of her relationship with her father, and along the way she is able to learn more about her long-deceased mother and start to come to terms with her death.
I know that many complained that the book was "boring" and had "no action." I personally don't feel as though a book always has to have "action" to be of substance. As I stated above, this book is more of a "slice of life" than it is a standard plotline story.
I saw great similarities between this book and "The Canning Season" by Polly Horvath. However unlike Horvath's novel the characters in "Because of Winn Dixie" are sweet and charming. There is a positive and innocent feeling a reader gets while engaged in this book, unlike the underlying negativity in "The Canning Season."
This little novel was a very quick read and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was sorry when it ended.
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Sara J. Macdonald (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo is a book about the friendship between a girl named India Opal and her dog Winn-Dixie. In the beginning of the story, Opal and her father, the preacher, move to the town of Naomi. Unfortunately, Opal doesn't have any friends. However, when she finds Winn-Dixie things begin to change for her. Winn-Dixie helps to befriend all sorts of interesting characters, like Gloria Dump, the old woman who kids think is a witch! With her newfound friends, Opal decides to plan a party. Planning the party and meeting new people helps her to see things differently and her outlook on life changes. She learns that all people have sorrow and bad happenings in their life.
The best parts of this book are when Winn-Dixie acts like a person by smiling, sneezing, being scared of storms and even eating peanut butter! I also like the ending because Opal is finally able to communicate with her father. Furthermore, she learns a lot about herself and life.
I recommend this book to all animal and dog lovers of any age! Also, if you enjoy realistic fiction, this book is for you! If you like books about friendship, you will love Because of Winn-Dixie!
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Carolyn Rampone (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-15 00:00>
Kate DiCamillo has become my favorite children's author. In both "The Tale of Despereaux" and "Because of Winn Dixie," the reader finds themselves a young child again. As India Opal Buloni strives to make friends in her new town, you feel like you are on the handlebars of her bike, going along for the ride. She is a sweet and loving little girl with tomboyish ways that will thrill both boys and girls. The story has sad parts and oh so happy parts where the love just leaps off the pages. No child should be without a copy of "Because of Winn Dixie" and I know a few adults who could benefit too.
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1 Total 1 pages 8 items |
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