Study Guide: Because of Winn-Dixie (A BookCaps Study Guide)

By BookCaps

The perfect companion to Kate Dicamillo’s "Because of Winn-Dixie," this study guide contains a chapter by chapter analysis of the book, a summary of the plot, and a guide to major characters and themes.

BookCap Study Guides do not contain text from the actual book, and are not meant to be purchased as alternatives to reading the book.

We all need refreshers every now and then. Whether you are a student trying to cram for that big final, or someone just trying to understand a book more, BookCaps can help. We are a small, but growing company, and are adding titles every month.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookCaps
• Release date: Feb 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466082601

BookCaps

We all need refreshers every now and then. Whether you are a student trying to cram for that big final, or someone just trying to understand a book more, BookCaps can help. We are a small, but growing company, and are adding titles every month.Visit www.bookcaps.com to see more of our books, or contact us with any questions.

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Kate DiCamillo’s

Because of Winn-Dixie

Golgotha Press

By BookCaps Study Guides

© 2011 by Golgotha Press, Inc.

Published at SmashWords

www.bookcaps.com

Historical Context

Kate DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1964. As a young child DiCamillo nearly died of pneumonia, so she and her family moved to Florida with her mother and brother when she was five; her father stayed behind to sell his business and never ended up joining them. In 1987, DiCamillo graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in English, which led to her working several odd jobs, until she moved to Minneapolis to work in a book warehouse at the age of thirty. While working at the warehouse, DiCamillo decided she wanted to be a children’s writer, and she began to draft her first novel, Because of Winn-Dixie.

DiCamillo published Because of Winn-Dixie in 2000. She was inspired to write the book while living in Minneapolis and seriously missing Florida and the weather. Also, DiCamillo wanted to have a dog, much like the black poodle named Nanette that she grew up with, but, unfortunately, her apartment building did not allow pets. In returning home each day to write about a girl and her dog, DiCamillo felt as though she had her own pet. She also feels as though she discovers her characters, rather than creates them, and is blessed to be chosen to tell their story. DiCamillo received a Newberry Award in 2001 for Because of Winn-Dixie and has continued to pen popular children’s novels such as The Tale of Despereaux and The Tiger Rising.

Plot

India Opal Buloni, who goes by the name Opal, is a ten-year-old girl who moves to Naomi, Florida with her father who is taking the position of preacher at the Open Arms Baptist Church of Naomi. Opal’s mother left her, and her father many years ago, and Opal does not remember anything about her. Opal is sad to be living in a new place because she feels terribly lonely, especially because she does not have a mother, and she is worried about being able to make friends. One day when she is at the local Winn-Dixie supermarket picking up some groceries for The Preacher, Opal sees the manager yelling at a poor looking dog. For some reason, Opal feels as though she