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Kids' Corner

My understanding about Kate DiCamillo is that she moved to the midwest at some point in adulthood--and, bored, wrote a novel to begin entertaining herself. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

I think--also--that that novel was "Because of Winn Dixie," which won awards and launched DiCamillo on her career.

Gripes first. DiCamillo is a bit sugary. She is not the master of subtlety that Kevin Henkes is. She has never made me laugh, as far as I recall, and so she is not Beverly Cleary.

But there are several things DiCamillo does very well:

*She underlines life's randomness. In "Winn Dixie," a little girl meets a stray dog at a grocery store; store name becomes dog name; the story begins. In a somewhat hackneyed way, Winn Dixie's travels through a new town help the girl to meet a ragtag group of friends, and the struggles of these friends become the novel.
*DiCamillo makes lively characters and gives them high-stakes situations. The narrator of "Winn Dixie" isn't sitting on her thumbs; she is struggling to understand why her mother abandoned her. Strong stuff for a kids' book! You have an eccentric grocer, wrestling with trauma after wrongful imprisonment. You have a blind former alcoholic--believed to be a witch--standing under a bizarre "bottle tree." It's pleasant to spend time with these people.
*DiCamillo invents fun names. "Gloria Dump," "India Opal," "Gertrude the Parrot," "Dunlap Dewberry." This is someone who likes playing with words.

So--for an enjoyable two hours, and a useful class in brisk storytelling--I recommend "Winn Dixie." Time well-spent.
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