This book was AMAZING!! I read this book in record time for me. The fastest I have probably ever read a novel. I could not put the book down. This book just captured my heart. I am an animal lover especially dogs. I absolutly love dogs. I can never remember not having a dog. I thought I would die laughing reading the part about how she came to be the owner of Winn-Dixie because it sounds just like something I would have done when I was a kid. No matter how ugly the dog, I still could find it cute. Having Winn-Dixie was a great outlet and sorce of hope for Opal. It is always hard growing up without one of your parents. Opal's dad, the preacher, was a very busy man and it took a lot for him to finally open up to Opal. She was very curious and had a kind heart for everyone. Since her mother was not there, Winn-Dixie was the one she could talk to and spend time with. My favorite and least favorite part of the book was when Winn-Dixie got lost. I almost cried. I could see myself searching for Winn-Dixie with her. How heartbreaking it was for Opal to have lost her mother but the thought of losing her bestfriend was too much. She was determined and willinging to find Winn-Dixie, and she did I finally breathed!!!