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The summer
that 10-year-old India Opal and her preacher father move to tiny Naomi,
Florida, is one of the loneliest ones Opal has had yet. She doesn't
know anyone in town, and it seems like the local kids who attend her
father's church aren't interested in knowing her, either.
But all that changes when Opal is sent to the nearby Winn-Dixie grocery
store. As she tells it: "...my daddy, the preacher, sent me to
the store for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice and two
tomatoes and I came back with a dog."
At the Winn-Dixie, Opal sees a big, ugly dog making a ruckus. When
the manager threatens to call the pound to take take the mutt away,
Opal fibs and says the pooch belongs to her. The dog, now named Winn-Dixie,
loves the idea and is thrilled when Opal takes him home.
Winn-Dixie soon becomes part of the family, and Opal's best friend.
She tells him everything, especially about how much she misses her
mama, who left Opal and the preacher when Opal was three. Besides
being a great listener, Winn-Dixie has a knack for making friends
all over town, too. Before long, Opal's days --- and her heart ---
begin to fill up with all the special (and unusual) people in her
life. You won't want to miss this tender story about a girl and the
dog that changed her world.
--- Reviewed by Shannon Maughan
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