Friday Favorites: Because of Winn-Dixie

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some not necessarily YA books I love.

Which book?
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo

Genre?
Middle grade

Summary? (From GoodReads)
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. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of War and Peace. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar.Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her 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.

When did I first read it?
Two years ago.

Why did I first read it?
I was at the bookstore looking for a book for my niece’s birthday, and I saw Because of Winn-Dixie on the shelf. I’d always avoided reading it when I was younger, because I assumed it was a dog-dying story. But I read the first page in the store, and I KNEW that book and I would be BFFs.

What did I think about it then?
I thought it was totally and completely heart-warming. You know those books that give you warm fuzzies? This was one of them. In fact, I think it’s the warm-fuzziest book I’ve ever read. I’m talking kittens and fluffy-towels-right-out-of-the-dryer warm fuzzies.

What do I think about it now?
I still get the warm fuzzies whenever I read it. And since it’s a short book, I reread it fairly often. I just love Opal so much. She’s basically my favorite kid after Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. She’s just so spunky and loveable. And I’ll let you in on a secret—the dog does NOT die! So there’s no reason not to read it.

Have you read Because of Winn-Dixie? What did you think?