Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie is a book about a girl named India Opal and how she gets friends. She and her father (the preacher) have just moved to a small town in Florida called Naomi. Opal has no friends in Naomi and summer vacation has started. One day, Opal goes to buy food at a grocery store. She hears the manager shouting, "who let a dog in here?" Opal answered "I did, he's my dog". She names the dog Winn-Dixie after the grocery store Opal found him in. The very same day, Opal goes to church. Winn-Dixie had to stay outside. Winn-Dixie had to be let in because he was disrupting the church. When he was let in, he started chasing a mouse. Everybody started laughing. Finally, Winn-Dixie gave the mouse alive to the preacher. The preacher said, "let us pray, for this mouse." Opal was riding her bicycle home when two boys ride next to her. They start teasing her. Suddenly, Winn Dixie runs of into a private lane. The boys say the lane belongs to a witch but Opal finds out the truth. It really belongs to a nice woman named Gloria Dump. Opal tells Gloria all about her life. Gloria says that Opal should try to make friends with the boys. Opal doesn't listen to this advice. The next day, Opal brings Winn-Dixie out for a walk when Winn-Dixie stops right in front of a pet store, staring at a shiny dog collar. It's expensive but Opal will do anything for her dog. Opal goes in and meets Otis, the man who works there. Opal works a deal with Otis that after a few weeks of sweeping floors, she would get the shiny dog collar. She ends up being friends with Otis. Opal spent alot of time at the library that summer. But she always brought Winn-Dixie with her and it was because of Winn-Dixie that Opal became friends with Mrs. Franny, the librarian. It happened like this: Opal was choosing a book to check out when Mrs. Franny cried "bear!" She actually saw Winn-Dixie and thought he was a ferocious bear. Opal assured Mrs. Franny that it was only her gentle dog Winn-Dixie. After being reassured, Mrs. Franny let Winn-Dixie into the library. Mrs. Franny told Opal and Winn-Dixie the story of why she was scared of bears. That's how they all became friends. What will happen? Read the book to find out! I like this book because it doesn't have one big problem. It's a few days in the life of an 8 year old girl. It makes me feel like I'm actually there, right in Naomi. This book teaches me that enemies can become friends. Therefore, I recommend this book for age 7 and older. It could even teach adults! You should read the book before the movie because there are some features about the father is more kind in the book.