Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie Summary | Plot Summary

Pair lost human souls with one lost canine soul, and the result is an inspiring tale of resilience and resolve. India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida, when her father, the Preacher, is called to lead the Open Arms Baptist Church of Naomi. Opal knows no one and feels sad and lonely at having left her friends behind. The characters she meets along the way as a result of her new best friend, Winn-Dixie, prove that family is only as far as your nearest friend.

India Opal Buloni, 10, is growing up without a mother. Her father is a preacher who moves from town to town when called, and this leaves Opal at loose ends. When the story opens, Opal has entered the local Winn-Dixie grocery store. What she finds changes her life forever.

Opal finds the grocery manager screaming about a dog in the produce section. He's big, smelly, and funny. Instead of letting this creature be sent to the pound, Opal says he belongs to her. She calls him over to her using the first name she can think of--the name of the grocery store--and a fast and firm friendship is formed.

Throughout that first summer in Naomi, Opal makes friends with people from all walks of life largely because of Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie needs Opal and the Preacher, and they need him. Opal finds out that almost everyone loves dogs, and that opens many doors for her.

She befriends the seemingly friendless and brings them all together to form an extended family. Judging each other is not allowed, but the playing of music, enjoyment of candy, and love of Winn-Dixie is. Although Opal misses her mother terribly at the beginning of the book, that lonely sadness ebbs with help from her new family and Winn-Dixie.