Wow! This book was truly captivating. The voice of India Opal Buloni is just precious as she tells the story of her childhood and the summer that changed her life. Kate DiCamillo is able to tell a story in such a way that it is almost like having a conversation with the characters in the book. I am just so impressed at how this book captivated me. The plot peaks at just the right moment too. Opal's deeper story of coping with the absence of her mother is lightened and developed through her adventures with Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie helps her meet new people and build important relationships, but most of all he brings Opal and her father, the preacher, together during a time when they needed each other the most. My favorite passage comes from one of the last chapters, pages 164-168. It is here that Opal finally confronts her father about her mother. It is so moving that the two break down and cry together over their loss and sorrow, but most importantly, how they reach out to one another, recognizing that they are happy because they have one another to lean on. Because of Winn- Dixe, Opal and the Preacher finally connect and are able to move away from their past to focus on their future, strengthening their relationship. This book is remarkable.