Comparison
Because of Winn-Dixie vs Out of My Mind
How Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo and Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper compare on reading level, grade placement, curriculum overlap, and shared themes — derived from primary-source citations on each book’s ReadingList page.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Kate DiCamillo
- Lexile
- 610L
- Grades
- 3–5
- Published
- 2000
- Pages
- 182
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
Out of My Mind
Sharon M. Draper
- Lexile
- 700L
- Grades
- 4–7
- Published
- 2010
- Pages
- 295
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
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At a glance
- Lexile differential
- 90L (Because of Winn-Dixie: 610L · Out of My Mind: 700L)
- Grade-range overlap
- Grades 4–5
- Year-of-publication gap
- 10 years (2000 vs 2010)
- Page-count gap
- 113 pages (182 vs 295)
- Shared curricula
- 44 of 127
- Shared themes
- 1 of 9
Reading-level difference
The 90-point Lexile gap puts Out of My Mind roughly a notch above Because of Winn-Dixie. Lexile differences below 50L typically reflect equivalent decoding load (sentence length + word frequency); differences above 200L cross developmental reading-band boundaries. More on how Lexile measures work →
Curriculum overlap
Both books appear in 44 shared curriculum frameworks:
Themes
Shared
friendship
Only Because of Winn-Dixie
loss · mother absence · small-town community · second chances
Only Out of My Mind
disability · inclusion · intelligence · family
Common questions
- Which is harder to read, Because of Winn-Dixie or Out of My Mind?
- Out of My Mind (Lexile 700) is the harder read — 90L higher than Because of Winn-Dixie (Lexile 610). Lexile differential ≥150L typically means a 1-2 grade-level difference. Both are in the 3-5 grade band, though.
- What grade level is Because of Winn-Dixie vs Out of My Mind?
- Because of Winn-Dixie: 3-5 grade range. Out of My Mind: 4-7 grade range. Both assigned within the 3-5 band. Specific district and curriculum vary; see each book's page for the full assignment history.
- Which is more commonly taught, Because of Winn-Dixie or Out of My Mind?
- Both Because of Winn-Dixie and Out of My Mind are in the top-10 most-cited books on ReadingList.school across US school assignments and curricula. Each book's individual page (Because of Winn-Dixie, Out of My Mind) lists every tracked assignment with source citation, so you can see which has broader curriculum reach in your specific region.
- Should I read Because of Winn-Dixie or Out of My Mind first?
- If they're in the same school year, follow the syllabus order (usually chronological by publication or grouped by theme). If reading independently: start with the shorter or lower-Lexile title (Because of Winn-Dixie) to build context, then move to the other. Both titles often appear together on AP / IB reading lists as paired study.
Get these books
Because of Winn-Dixie
Kate DiCamillo
Where to find this book
Audible: many assigned titles are included with a membership, and listening starts right away, with no wait for delivery. Offers vary by account.
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.
Out of My Mind
Sharon M. Draper
Where to find this book
Audible: many assigned titles are included with a membership, and listening starts right away, with no wait for delivery. Offers vary by account.
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.