everyone they know. In the process, Opal becomes a friend to her former enemies, the brothers Stevie and Dunlap Dewberry. She also invites Amanda Wilkinson and Sweetie Pie Thomas, a younger girl who has no pet, and so has fallen in love with Winn-Dixie. Otis and Miss Franny Block are also invited. Opal and Gloria set up everything outdoors, but it starts to rain, so they bring the party indoors. Opal can't find Winn-Dixie anywhere, even after searching the town. Ten minutes later she returns to Gloria's home to discover that Winn-Dixie has been there all the time, hiding because he is scared of storms. The book ends with Otis playing his guitar and everyone singing one of The Preacher's songs. Reception Because of Winn-Dixie was the winner of a Newbery Honor distinction the year after publication. In 2000, the book won the Josette Frank Award, and in 2003 won the Mark Twain Award. In 2007 the U.S. National Education Association listed Winn-Dixie as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children", based on an online poll. In 2012 it was ranked number 20 on a list of the top 100 children's novels published by School Library Journal, the first of three books by DiCamillo in the Top 100. Musical adaptation A Broadway musical based on the novel was announced in 2011 and debuted at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre on December 5, 2013. John Tartaglia directed the play while Nell Benjamin wrote the book and lyrics and Duncan Sheik wrote the music. The musical was a part of Goodspeed Musicals' 2019 season, playing from June to September, and was directed by John Rando. References 2000 American novels 2000 children's books American children's novels Candlewick Press books First-person narrative novels Newbery Honor-winning works American novels adapted into films Novels about dogs Novels set in Florida Mark Twain Awards