Because of Winn-Dixie

“There ain't no way you can hold onto something that wants to go, you understand? You can only love what you got while you got it” (pg. 159). 

This book was very popular in my fourth-grade class because of the movie adaptation, but I never got around to reading. I heard various reviews about it, mostly saying that it was sad. This scared little 11-year-old me into not reading it. That is, until now. I am happy to say I loved this book, and it wasn't as sad as people were making it out to be.

This story follows India Opal, a young girl who has just moved to a small town, away from all of her friends. She only lives with her dad due to her mother leaving them when Opal was only a baby. She has a hard time making friends, so she is very lonely at the beginning. One day, while going to the grocery store, she finds Winn-Dixie, who is a skinny, scrappy mutt who loves to get into trouble. With the help of her newfound friend, Opal meets many new friends around her town, such as the librarian, a pet store manager, and a "witch". The book ends on a happy note, with Opal and all her new friends at a party enjoying some music, pickles, and Litmus Lozenges. 

Including this book in your classroom would be very beneficial to your students. The first tough topic it covers is parents leaving. Early on in the book, it goes into detail about how Opal's mother left. This topic, while difficult to discuss, can really open up conversations to students who have dealt with this in their personal lives. Sometimes, kids can have a hard time expressing their feelings. If they find a character dealing with the same thing, the connection can bring out their struggles and help them cope. Another topic this book deals with is making friends. In school, making social connections and collaborating are extremely important. However, this can be hard for some people, like Opal. This book can be relatable to students who are having struggles with making friends and can offer support to them.

This book was definitely 5/5 paws for me! It was a cute story with deeper meanings that are helpful to students. I constantly felt myself smiling throughout the story and felt warm after reading it. 

2 out of 20 books down! Tune in next week to see what my next book adventure will be!

Bridge to Terabithia (SPOILERS)

 

“Sometimes it seemed to him that his life was delicate as a dandelion. One little puff from any direction, and it was blown to bits” (p 77)

I will preface this by saying I apologize if I spoil the ending of this book for anyone wanting to read it. Even if it's spoiled, you should still read it. It's something you will never forget.

I never read this book in school, nor did I watch the movie adaptation of it. I honestly hadn't thought about reading it until I was introduced to it in another class. It sounded like something I would enjoy, so I decided to read it as my first book of the 20 Book Challenge. I was not ready for the emotional rollercoaster it sent me on.

A quick summary: Leslie moves into the house next door to Jess, and they become friends. The two find a spot in the woods by their houses and create a new magical world called Terabithia, where they rule as king and queen. They use this new world to escape the reality of their lives, but they soon come to realize that they cannot always escape. One stormy day, Jess goes on a trip with his music teacher without telling anyone. (SPOILER) When he returns, he learns that Leslie had drowned in the river trying to return to Terabithia on her own. He denies his grief but soon has to accept her death and mourn. 

I was not expecting this from a children's book! I was in tears for the last third of the book! I couldn't imagine reading this book at a young age. However, as I finally stopped crying over it, I realized why the author wrote this book for a young audience. Everyone deals with grief, even at a young age, but not everyone knows how to cope. This book shows that it's okay to be sad and cry, even if you're a boy like the main character. It's okay to talk about how you're feeling and to hate the world. The book also looks at developing friendships. The two main characters had a hard start, but they eventually found out that they are very similar, so they became friends. This could inspire kids to look for friends in the people they never really considered. 

I encourage everyone of all ages to read this book. It will definitely stick with me.

So, book one down! Only 19 more to go! Check-in next week to read my review of Because of Winn-Dixie.