Because of Winn-Dixie discussion

A girl named Opal Buloni stars as the main character in Because of Winn Dixie. Opal and her father move from one small-town in Florida to another, and she is having a difficult time adjusting to her new home. Only when she takes in a stray dog does she begin to explore the town. Named after the grocery store in which Opal found him, Winn Dixie is more than a pet to Opal. He serves as her best friend and introduces her to new places and kind people in the town.
This book has really challenged my preconceived notions concerning middle grades fiction! I had always associated this genre of novel with the word "easy," but this is not the case! Although Because of Winn Dixie is suitable for a younger adult audience, challenging themes that can stimulate conversation after conversation are present. In this novel, I found abandonment to be a connecting theme throughout: Winn Dixie is a stray dog, Opal's mother leaving the family, the "witch" being avoided by the rest of the town, etc. As a side note, Because of Winn Dixie is also a movie. I think it would be interesting to compare the written novel and the film version ad discuss which aspects change or remain the same.