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The Eyes & the Impossible
The illustrated story of a dog who unwittingly becomes a hero to a park full of animals.
Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure the Equilibrium is in balance.
But changes are afoot. More humans, including Trouble Travelers, arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats—an actual boatload of goats—who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world.
Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure the Equilibrium is in balance.
But changes are afoot. More humans, including Trouble Travelers, arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats—an actual boatload of goats—who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2023
1009 people are currently reading
16528 people want to read
About the author
Dave Eggers
347 books9,366 followersDave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is best known for his 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Eggers is also the founder of several notable literary and philanthropic ventures, including the literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the literacy project 826 Valencia, and the human rights nonprofit Voice of Witness. Additionally, he founded ScholarMatch, a program that connects donors with students needing funds for college tuition. His writing has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, including The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine.
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April 8, 2023
The animal book. Much maligned. Loathed. Occasionally abhorred. Standouts aside (I see you, Charlotte) it’s a genre of children’s book that can go real bad, real fast. I have heard actual, honest-to-goodness children’s librarians say point blank that they cannot stand animals chapter book fiction. True story. And yet the reasons vary wildly. Some only associate such books with death (as with the aforementioned Charlotte, The Underneath, etc.). Some find them cutesy or too twee for words (I’m not naming names here). Others dislike them because they are too often avatars for some grand metaphors about the human condition (most recently seen in The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse). And when you hear that an author of books for adults has written such a title (strike one) and that their publisher is calling it “a timeless story for readers of all ages” (strike two), the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up and refuse to come down, despite my best entreaties. The author in question is Dave Eggers. My relationship to his children’s books has been touch and go. I certainly consider Her Right Foot his informational fiction picture book about the Statue of Liberty, to be one of the greats. But when it comes to chapter book fiction, the last thing of his I read was The Lifters which was . . . nice. A perfectly decent book. But life is too short for the perfectly decent, particularly when we’re talking about an animal book. Yet the blurbs on this new title were from folks I trust like Jon Klassen and Jon Scieszka and Annie Barrows. And with art by Shawn Harris, this at the very least looked interesting. So saying, I tell those of you who are like myself that though you may not be the biggest fan of books populated by furry woodland creatures (and, yes, that definitely is this book in a nutshell), read The Eyes and the Impossible and you will find a thoroughly well-written, occasionally touching, funny, strange little book that sticks both its landing and in your memory. It might even turn you around on the whole animal fiction thing.
Johannes occupies a park. The only free dog there, he is everywhere at once, running so fast you could never catch him. Here he works for the park’s three resident Bison. For them, he is “the eyes”, and he has helper animals that report to him daily. Things have stayed the same for quite some time, but suddenly there is a shift. A strange new building. Odd rectangles that enthrall Johannes and ensnare him. Strange hoards of animals that descend on the park and eat everything in sight. And strangest of all, Johannes has concocted a plan so wild and strange, it may change everything about his life from now on.
Dave Eggers probably is perfectly aware of people like me so, to ease at least some of our fears, this is what he writes in the book even before the story has started:
“This is a work of fiction. No places are real places. No animals are real animals. And, most crucially, no animals symbolize people. It is a tendency of the human species to see themselves in everything, to assume all living things, animals in particular, are simply corollaries to humans, but in this book, that is not the case. Here, the dogs are dogs, the birds are birds, goats are goats, the Bison Bison.”
He is also, I am sure, equally aware that it is the right of the reader to interpret whatever they read through their own lens, in strict defiance of the author if needs be. Even so, I appreciated the note. One assumes he is attempting to head off at the pass future interview questions from child and adult alike, wondering what it all means. Perhaps he is doing students a favor by trying waylay their teachers from giving them writing assignments that would demand they give a lofty weight and meaning to these critters in some outsized capacity. It may all be for nought, but I appreciate the effort. Also, as someone who gets real tired of novel-length metaphors real fast, it’s nice to get a modicum of reassurance right at the start. I suspect that there are many kids out there who will feel the same way.
Animal fiction has one distinct advantage over other kinds of middle grade chapter books that I have failed to mention until now: They make excellent classroom readalouds. Now truth be told I have not yet attempted to read The Eyes and the Impossible out loud to anyone. I think I may do so with my son fairly soon, but I know enough about the book to say with certainty that this book isn’t quite as simple as, say, The One and Only Ivan. A teacher considering it may wish to give it a practice run at home before debuting it before an audience. After all, the book opens with, “I turn I turn I turn before I lie to sleep and I rise before the Sun. I sleep inside and sleep outside and have slept in the hollow of a thousand-year-old tree.” It’s not exactly Ulysses for kids, but it's not exactly NOT Ulysses either. Even so, I think it could enthrall, if done properly. Just make sure you’re up for bringing your best performance.
Considering its quality, it’s a bit funny that I’ve taken this long to get to the actual writing in the book. It’s good. Quite good. Very good even. What is truly remarkable about Mr. Eggers as a writer is that he has found innumerable ways to say the otherwise simple phrase of, “I ran” here. Johannes never says he simply ran. Every time he takes off we are treated to these delicious descriptions of his speed, and no two ever repeat. “I run like a rocket. I run like a laser. You have never seen speed like mine. When I run I pull at the earth and make it turn.” Johannes speaks like a canine Mohammed Ali. When he brags, his exaggerations take on a grandiosity that grows increasingly delicious the more outsized that they become. A person could read an entire book entirely consisting of Johannes’ brags and it would be enough.
I think that’s the key to The Eyes and the Impossible, actually. Eggers has a nice sturdy plot, where interesting things happen, but he also fills the book (it’s almost sneaky) with beautiful language. Often that language, as when Johannes brags, is funny, and for kids it’s like the humor means they’re allowed to enjoy the writing. It gives them a pass. So you’ll get lines like, “I can make my way up quickly, like a feather lifted by wind, because my speed is light flight and my claws like promises kept,” and it works. The bravado convinces you, even as the language enthralls. How else could Eggers write something like this: “You are wondering about the sweater. You are wondering if the sweater altered my running ability, or my ability to reach the speed of light by throwing the future into the past and being the mechanism that turns the world.” The man has guts, I'll tell ya that.
And thumbs up on the characters in this story, by the way. Naturally I enjoyed the plot (there are repeated moments that read like some kind of furry footed version of Ocean’s 11) and its well-deserved ending. I liked very much the moment when Johannes confronts some rude goats and they almost immediately fall to worshipping him on sight. And being set on an island, I can almost completely visualize the stage production of this book. But beyond all of that I liked the characters and their individual arcs in particular. Johannes, our lead, is interesting because in spite of his braggadocio, you aren’t put off in the least. You like him, possibly because his behaviors are so very familiar and so very dog. His friends never quite fall into standard types, either. With their limited page time, it would have been easy to just slap them into individual scenes, each with a single personality quirk. Instead, they all seem to have interior lives and, in some cases, a multitude of quirks. Some of them even get character arcs, if you can believe it. And all this with such a slim page count too.
Though he never really tells us what a “pupusa” is, or why Johannes likes to eat them so much (a great number of things dogs eat are completely disgusting, so I like to think that Dave Eggers has spared us some great and terrible knowledge here), for the most part this book wraps up every dangling plot thread, by the story’s end, while still allowing the readers to speculate about what happens after that last page. It is little wonder that the man behind the nation-wide 826 initiatives where kids do a fair amount of creative writing has handed us a book that ends with what is essentially a gigantic writing prompt. Yet I would bet every penny I’ve earned in my life that Dave Eggers wouldn’t touch a sequel to this book with a ten-foot-pole. Though it has a certain Stuart Little-esque ending, and you’re left wanting to know more, some kids will be strangely satisfied. Others will probably reenact the fury I myself felt in third grade when my teacher finished reading the previously mentioned Stuart Little and I felt horribly cheated. You know what happens to those kids? They write their own endings. Their own sequels. And then they become writers themselves. Smart move, Mr. Eggers, sir.
Seems a bit of a pity not to mention Shawn Harris in all of this. The guy classes up this joint, and does it in a rather unique way. Now Harris is a bit of an enigma as a children’s book artist. Sometimes I feel like he follows a compunction to never illustrate the same way twice. That instinct has served him well, as his Caldecott Honor for Have You Ever Seen a Flower? attests (and Caldecott committees adore it when you change up your style). Now he’s done something utterly original with this book. I didn’t pick up on it at first either. Essentially, he’s taken ten paintings of classical landscapes, mostly from the 1800s (with a single 1600s van Rusdael for spice) and added Johannes to each one. Added so well, in fact, that you can hardly imagine the landscapes without him. It isn’t simply a matter of injecting a dog into a scene either. Look at the painting “Forest Interior” (1878) by Berndt Lindholm. This is one of the few paintings where Johannes is moving quite close to the viewer. He runs down a path and the sun hits his fur at precisely the same angle that it hits the trees and ground. Harris has even inserted his shadow, completing the illusion that he’s been here all along. That minute attention to detail pays off almost too well. I’m not sure how Shawn Harris is going to feel about thousands and thousands of children assuming he painted each of these images entirely from scratch, but he’s about to receive that honor.
A confident writer that is confident for good reason is deeply satisfying. Any one of us could try to write our own version of this story, and not a single one of us would write it the way that Dave Eggers has. I devoured this book in a single sitting and would reread it happily if asked to do so, which I cannot say for every kids book I pick up. It’s the writing, man. It dares to be better, but doesn’t lose young readers along the way. There’s excitement and goats and near drownings and ridiculous disguises. It’s a legitimately fun book that soaked itself in great writing and isn’t afraid to show that writing off. I don’t know if it has what it takes to become a massive hit. I don’t know if other adult gatekeepers will agree with me on what it is doing (and how well). All I know is that that doggone publisher is actually right. It really is a book for all ages. Oh, how I cringe to say that, but it’s true! A work of animal fiction. A title you can read with the whole family. A fun book. A worthy book. A great one.
Johannes occupies a park. The only free dog there, he is everywhere at once, running so fast you could never catch him. Here he works for the park’s three resident Bison. For them, he is “the eyes”, and he has helper animals that report to him daily. Things have stayed the same for quite some time, but suddenly there is a shift. A strange new building. Odd rectangles that enthrall Johannes and ensnare him. Strange hoards of animals that descend on the park and eat everything in sight. And strangest of all, Johannes has concocted a plan so wild and strange, it may change everything about his life from now on.
Dave Eggers probably is perfectly aware of people like me so, to ease at least some of our fears, this is what he writes in the book even before the story has started:
“This is a work of fiction. No places are real places. No animals are real animals. And, most crucially, no animals symbolize people. It is a tendency of the human species to see themselves in everything, to assume all living things, animals in particular, are simply corollaries to humans, but in this book, that is not the case. Here, the dogs are dogs, the birds are birds, goats are goats, the Bison Bison.”
He is also, I am sure, equally aware that it is the right of the reader to interpret whatever they read through their own lens, in strict defiance of the author if needs be. Even so, I appreciated the note. One assumes he is attempting to head off at the pass future interview questions from child and adult alike, wondering what it all means. Perhaps he is doing students a favor by trying waylay their teachers from giving them writing assignments that would demand they give a lofty weight and meaning to these critters in some outsized capacity. It may all be for nought, but I appreciate the effort. Also, as someone who gets real tired of novel-length metaphors real fast, it’s nice to get a modicum of reassurance right at the start. I suspect that there are many kids out there who will feel the same way.
Animal fiction has one distinct advantage over other kinds of middle grade chapter books that I have failed to mention until now: They make excellent classroom readalouds. Now truth be told I have not yet attempted to read The Eyes and the Impossible out loud to anyone. I think I may do so with my son fairly soon, but I know enough about the book to say with certainty that this book isn’t quite as simple as, say, The One and Only Ivan. A teacher considering it may wish to give it a practice run at home before debuting it before an audience. After all, the book opens with, “I turn I turn I turn before I lie to sleep and I rise before the Sun. I sleep inside and sleep outside and have slept in the hollow of a thousand-year-old tree.” It’s not exactly Ulysses for kids, but it's not exactly NOT Ulysses either. Even so, I think it could enthrall, if done properly. Just make sure you’re up for bringing your best performance.
Considering its quality, it’s a bit funny that I’ve taken this long to get to the actual writing in the book. It’s good. Quite good. Very good even. What is truly remarkable about Mr. Eggers as a writer is that he has found innumerable ways to say the otherwise simple phrase of, “I ran” here. Johannes never says he simply ran. Every time he takes off we are treated to these delicious descriptions of his speed, and no two ever repeat. “I run like a rocket. I run like a laser. You have never seen speed like mine. When I run I pull at the earth and make it turn.” Johannes speaks like a canine Mohammed Ali. When he brags, his exaggerations take on a grandiosity that grows increasingly delicious the more outsized that they become. A person could read an entire book entirely consisting of Johannes’ brags and it would be enough.
I think that’s the key to The Eyes and the Impossible, actually. Eggers has a nice sturdy plot, where interesting things happen, but he also fills the book (it’s almost sneaky) with beautiful language. Often that language, as when Johannes brags, is funny, and for kids it’s like the humor means they’re allowed to enjoy the writing. It gives them a pass. So you’ll get lines like, “I can make my way up quickly, like a feather lifted by wind, because my speed is light flight and my claws like promises kept,” and it works. The bravado convinces you, even as the language enthralls. How else could Eggers write something like this: “You are wondering about the sweater. You are wondering if the sweater altered my running ability, or my ability to reach the speed of light by throwing the future into the past and being the mechanism that turns the world.” The man has guts, I'll tell ya that.
And thumbs up on the characters in this story, by the way. Naturally I enjoyed the plot (there are repeated moments that read like some kind of furry footed version of Ocean’s 11) and its well-deserved ending. I liked very much the moment when Johannes confronts some rude goats and they almost immediately fall to worshipping him on sight. And being set on an island, I can almost completely visualize the stage production of this book. But beyond all of that I liked the characters and their individual arcs in particular. Johannes, our lead, is interesting because in spite of his braggadocio, you aren’t put off in the least. You like him, possibly because his behaviors are so very familiar and so very dog. His friends never quite fall into standard types, either. With their limited page time, it would have been easy to just slap them into individual scenes, each with a single personality quirk. Instead, they all seem to have interior lives and, in some cases, a multitude of quirks. Some of them even get character arcs, if you can believe it. And all this with such a slim page count too.
Though he never really tells us what a “pupusa” is, or why Johannes likes to eat them so much (a great number of things dogs eat are completely disgusting, so I like to think that Dave Eggers has spared us some great and terrible knowledge here), for the most part this book wraps up every dangling plot thread, by the story’s end, while still allowing the readers to speculate about what happens after that last page. It is little wonder that the man behind the nation-wide 826 initiatives where kids do a fair amount of creative writing has handed us a book that ends with what is essentially a gigantic writing prompt. Yet I would bet every penny I’ve earned in my life that Dave Eggers wouldn’t touch a sequel to this book with a ten-foot-pole. Though it has a certain Stuart Little-esque ending, and you’re left wanting to know more, some kids will be strangely satisfied. Others will probably reenact the fury I myself felt in third grade when my teacher finished reading the previously mentioned Stuart Little and I felt horribly cheated. You know what happens to those kids? They write their own endings. Their own sequels. And then they become writers themselves. Smart move, Mr. Eggers, sir.
Seems a bit of a pity not to mention Shawn Harris in all of this. The guy classes up this joint, and does it in a rather unique way. Now Harris is a bit of an enigma as a children’s book artist. Sometimes I feel like he follows a compunction to never illustrate the same way twice. That instinct has served him well, as his Caldecott Honor for Have You Ever Seen a Flower? attests (and Caldecott committees adore it when you change up your style). Now he’s done something utterly original with this book. I didn’t pick up on it at first either. Essentially, he’s taken ten paintings of classical landscapes, mostly from the 1800s (with a single 1600s van Rusdael for spice) and added Johannes to each one. Added so well, in fact, that you can hardly imagine the landscapes without him. It isn’t simply a matter of injecting a dog into a scene either. Look at the painting “Forest Interior” (1878) by Berndt Lindholm. This is one of the few paintings where Johannes is moving quite close to the viewer. He runs down a path and the sun hits his fur at precisely the same angle that it hits the trees and ground. Harris has even inserted his shadow, completing the illusion that he’s been here all along. That minute attention to detail pays off almost too well. I’m not sure how Shawn Harris is going to feel about thousands and thousands of children assuming he painted each of these images entirely from scratch, but he’s about to receive that honor.
A confident writer that is confident for good reason is deeply satisfying. Any one of us could try to write our own version of this story, and not a single one of us would write it the way that Dave Eggers has. I devoured this book in a single sitting and would reread it happily if asked to do so, which I cannot say for every kids book I pick up. It’s the writing, man. It dares to be better, but doesn’t lose young readers along the way. There’s excitement and goats and near drownings and ridiculous disguises. It’s a legitimately fun book that soaked itself in great writing and isn’t afraid to show that writing off. I don’t know if it has what it takes to become a massive hit. I don’t know if other adult gatekeepers will agree with me on what it is doing (and how well). All I know is that that doggone publisher is actually right. It really is a book for all ages. Oh, how I cringe to say that, but it’s true! A work of animal fiction. A title you can read with the whole family. A fun book. A worthy book. A great one.
June 7, 2023
4.5⭐️
Audio Narration: 5⭐️; Story: 4⭐️
“Heroes go forth. To be alive is to go forth.”
Johannes is a free dog who lives in a park on a small island. He loves running and keeping track of everything that is happening in the park including human activity as well as the other animals. He is the “Eyes” of the park, reporting back to the three Bison who are the “Keepers of the Equilibrium”. He has a team of Assistant Eyes - a seagull, a raccoon and a squirrel to help him with his duties.
As the narrative progresses, we follow Johannes and his friends as they encounter several disturbances to the Equilibrium-the construction of a new structure in the middle of a park, the “rectangles” that fascinate Johannes, the hundreds of goats that are new to the park, the Trouble Travelers and the Control- the- Animals people and the Parks People who are on the lookout for a coyote that has been seen in the vicinity. Johannes also embarks on a quest to free his Bison friends who are fenced in an enclosure in the park. Not everything will go according to his plans and he will face a series of obstacles in the process, learning much about the way the world works and himself in the process.
Please note that this story does not employ anthropomorphism as a narrative device or metaphor. This is a story about animals that coexist in the same habitat, each with their own habits and rituals, and in no way are meant to represent human behavior in any form. The author makes this clear at the beginning of this story. “And, most crucially, no animals symbolize people. It is a tendency of the human species to see themselves in everything, to assume all living things, animals in particular, are simply corollaries to humans, but in this book, that is not the case. Here, the dogs are dogs, the birds are birds, goats are goats, the Bison Bison.”
The story is presented to us in Johannes’ first-person PoV. In turn moving, reflective and humorous and touching upon themes of friendship, family, freedom and change The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers is a delightful read, full of heart and humor, that readers of any age would enjoy, despite the target audience being younger readers. Johannes is an endearing narrator with an interesting worldview. His observations on human behavior, compassion for his fellow animals (though he isn’t quite sympathetic to the ducks in the park) and his inquisitive nature kept me hooked till the very last page. Illustrator Shawn Harris adds Johannes to the classical landscape paintings interspersed throughout the narrative which are beautiful and perfectly complement the prose.
I paired my reading with the audiobook (that clocks at a little over 5 hours) and I just loved the narration by Ethan Hawke, making for a wonderful immersion reading experience.
“If we go through life assuming everything will be complicated, and then it is complicated, doesn’t that make us better prepared? What I mean is, if we expect life to be complicated, and life is complicated, then life is simple, right?”
Audio Narration: 5⭐️; Story: 4⭐️
“Heroes go forth. To be alive is to go forth.”
Johannes is a free dog who lives in a park on a small island. He loves running and keeping track of everything that is happening in the park including human activity as well as the other animals. He is the “Eyes” of the park, reporting back to the three Bison who are the “Keepers of the Equilibrium”. He has a team of Assistant Eyes - a seagull, a raccoon and a squirrel to help him with his duties.
As the narrative progresses, we follow Johannes and his friends as they encounter several disturbances to the Equilibrium-the construction of a new structure in the middle of a park, the “rectangles” that fascinate Johannes, the hundreds of goats that are new to the park, the Trouble Travelers and the Control- the- Animals people and the Parks People who are on the lookout for a coyote that has been seen in the vicinity. Johannes also embarks on a quest to free his Bison friends who are fenced in an enclosure in the park. Not everything will go according to his plans and he will face a series of obstacles in the process, learning much about the way the world works and himself in the process.
Please note that this story does not employ anthropomorphism as a narrative device or metaphor. This is a story about animals that coexist in the same habitat, each with their own habits and rituals, and in no way are meant to represent human behavior in any form. The author makes this clear at the beginning of this story. “And, most crucially, no animals symbolize people. It is a tendency of the human species to see themselves in everything, to assume all living things, animals in particular, are simply corollaries to humans, but in this book, that is not the case. Here, the dogs are dogs, the birds are birds, goats are goats, the Bison Bison.”
The story is presented to us in Johannes’ first-person PoV. In turn moving, reflective and humorous and touching upon themes of friendship, family, freedom and change The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers is a delightful read, full of heart and humor, that readers of any age would enjoy, despite the target audience being younger readers. Johannes is an endearing narrator with an interesting worldview. His observations on human behavior, compassion for his fellow animals (though he isn’t quite sympathetic to the ducks in the park) and his inquisitive nature kept me hooked till the very last page. Illustrator Shawn Harris adds Johannes to the classical landscape paintings interspersed throughout the narrative which are beautiful and perfectly complement the prose.
I paired my reading with the audiobook (that clocks at a little over 5 hours) and I just loved the narration by Ethan Hawke, making for a wonderful immersion reading experience.
“If we go through life assuming everything will be complicated, and then it is complicated, doesn’t that make us better prepared? What I mean is, if we expect life to be complicated, and life is complicated, then life is simple, right?”
October 7, 2024
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade novel coming from the perspective of a dog. Great original narrative voice, awesome characters, good plot, lovely illustrations.
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Plot Preview:
This book won the Newbery Medal in 2024, and reading it confirmed that the Medal jury got it right this time
Bookish Yays:
🐶 The introductory note that asks readers to treat the animals in the book as animals, instead of superimposing an allegory on their behaviour. "It is a tendency of the human species to see themselves in everything, to assume all living things, animals in particular, are simply corollaries to humans." - Accurate!
🐶 Johannes. You will either love him or hate him, but you won’t be able to stay neutral about him. His knowledge goes far beyond what you would expect from a dog. He isn’t afraid to voice his opinions freely because he knows his opinions are right. He makes for a fabulous first-person narrator.
🐶 The genuine feel of the dog’s perspective in this book. Anyone who knows dogs knows that they are like little children: excitable, loving, playful, loyal, friendly, and adamant. Johannes’s narration epitomises all these qualities beautifully. Listening to him feels like we are actually hearing from a dog.
🐶 Johannes’s vocabulary! He isn't a typical dog, and his locution proves it. It was hilarious to see a dog use words such as propulsion and gravitas and ascertain and ignominious! 😆 Kids might not know all these words, but there’s no better way to learn new words than through a book, especially one narrated by a dog. I loved his lingo.
🐶 The other animal characters. All outstanding! It’s so amazing that the author didn’t stick to the usual animals. The idea of a dog, a seagull (Bertrand was my favourite after Johannes!), a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican working as the Eyes of the park and reporting to bison is preposterous and yet hilarious. Each animals’ personality comes out distinctly, which is highly praiseworthy considering that we know only Johannes’ inner thoughts.
🐶 The uncommon perspective. Looking at humans from an external view offers much food for thought. We see through the five Eyes how humans can affect animals in parks knowingly and unknowingly.
🐶 The plot. Not like most dog stories, which are usually about loyalty towards humans. Johannes being the master of his own will contributes much in setting this book apart from the standard canine-literature offerings.
🐶 The beautiful descriptions of nature in the park, with such lush and vibrant imagery that we feel we are right there beside Johannes. The entire writing is lyrical.
🐶 The humour throughout, thanks to Johannes, who was funny despite not deliberately being funny. Some of his thoughts were so ludicrous that I couldn’t help laughing aloud!
🐶 The use of hyperbole in the narrative. Johannes’ over-the-top estimations (He clearly doesn’t know his math!) and exaggerated self-aggrandizement are outrageous. Listening to his narration is akin to hearing a little child who embellishes every story they recount. It feels more cute than annoying, and though I did roll my eyes at times, it was more out of amusement than out of exasperation.
🐶 Nice, short chapters, perfect for little eyes and ears.
🐶 The secondary themes. Though not directly, the content touches upon some sensitive topics such as religious tolerance, xenophobia, racial discrimination, and individual freedom.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐾 Johannes rambles a lot, sometimes going almost stream of consciousness in his thread of thought. While this is fun, it is also confusing at times. It will be easier to go with the flow to keep up with this hyperactive but loveable dog.
🐾 The blurb calls this an illustrated novel, which is partly inaccurate. It is not replete with graphics, but there are nine fabulous watercolour full-page illustrations. These are classical landscapes by famous artists, on each of which illustrator Shawn Harris added Johannes. These are visually stunning! Every “painting” depicts Johannes at one with the park, either running or contemplating. So yes, you get nine paintings with Johannes, not a book full of illustrations.
🐾 Things do go a bit over the top at the end, but what the heck! It’s a children’s book – leave logic aside and enjoy!
Bookish Nays:
🐕 The plot has a mention of bird suicide. This wasn’t that important to the core story and could easily have been avoided, considering the target age of the readers.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 5 hrs 20 min, is narrated by actor Ethan Hawke. I have not watched him in any movie to date, but hearing him as Johannes makes me wonder what I might have missed. His performance is superlative! I don’t think I have ever heard a narrator be at one with his character to such an extent. If you have access to the audio version, then this book MUST be read through audio.
All in all, this was a fun ride. I adore dogs, so it was easy for me to enjoy a dog’s perspective in such an unusual story. The other animals added to the charm.
Definitely recommended! It’s a very good book, made great by the main character and the narrator.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to McSweeney's for providing the DRC of “The Eyes and the Impossible” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Plot Preview:
Johannes, proud of being a free dog rather than a “kept dog”, lives in a park filled with animals and visiting humans. He knows that he's superior to the humans but still likes them, though they have done nothing to deserve it. He also knows that he is the fastest runner, the most intelligent, and the best at his job as “the Eyes” of the park. As you can see, Johannes is quite humble. *wink, wink.*
As “the Eyes”, Johannes has to report any untoward incident to the park’s respected elders, three ancient bison. Along with his assistant Eyes – a raccoon, a pelican, a seagull, and a squirrel, Johannes ensures that the equilibrium of the park is kept in balance. But soon, there are a few too many changes in the park, and the equilibrium seems shaky. Even more shattering, Johannes learns that all that he knew of the world was doubtful.
The story comes to us in the first-person perspective of Johannes.
This book won the Newbery Medal in 2024, and reading it confirmed that the Medal jury got it right this time
Bookish Yays:
🐶 The introductory note that asks readers to treat the animals in the book as animals, instead of superimposing an allegory on their behaviour. "It is a tendency of the human species to see themselves in everything, to assume all living things, animals in particular, are simply corollaries to humans." - Accurate!
🐶 Johannes. You will either love him or hate him, but you won’t be able to stay neutral about him. His knowledge goes far beyond what you would expect from a dog. He isn’t afraid to voice his opinions freely because he knows his opinions are right. He makes for a fabulous first-person narrator.
🐶 The genuine feel of the dog’s perspective in this book. Anyone who knows dogs knows that they are like little children: excitable, loving, playful, loyal, friendly, and adamant. Johannes’s narration epitomises all these qualities beautifully. Listening to him feels like we are actually hearing from a dog.
🐶 Johannes’s vocabulary! He isn't a typical dog, and his locution proves it. It was hilarious to see a dog use words such as propulsion and gravitas and ascertain and ignominious! 😆 Kids might not know all these words, but there’s no better way to learn new words than through a book, especially one narrated by a dog. I loved his lingo.
🐶 The other animal characters. All outstanding! It’s so amazing that the author didn’t stick to the usual animals. The idea of a dog, a seagull (Bertrand was my favourite after Johannes!), a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican working as the Eyes of the park and reporting to bison is preposterous and yet hilarious. Each animals’ personality comes out distinctly, which is highly praiseworthy considering that we know only Johannes’ inner thoughts.
🐶 The uncommon perspective. Looking at humans from an external view offers much food for thought. We see through the five Eyes how humans can affect animals in parks knowingly and unknowingly.
🐶 The plot. Not like most dog stories, which are usually about loyalty towards humans. Johannes being the master of his own will contributes much in setting this book apart from the standard canine-literature offerings.
🐶 The beautiful descriptions of nature in the park, with such lush and vibrant imagery that we feel we are right there beside Johannes. The entire writing is lyrical.
🐶 The humour throughout, thanks to Johannes, who was funny despite not deliberately being funny. Some of his thoughts were so ludicrous that I couldn’t help laughing aloud!
🐶 The use of hyperbole in the narrative. Johannes’ over-the-top estimations (He clearly doesn’t know his math!) and exaggerated self-aggrandizement are outrageous. Listening to his narration is akin to hearing a little child who embellishes every story they recount. It feels more cute than annoying, and though I did roll my eyes at times, it was more out of amusement than out of exasperation.
🐶 Nice, short chapters, perfect for little eyes and ears.
🐶 The secondary themes. Though not directly, the content touches upon some sensitive topics such as religious tolerance, xenophobia, racial discrimination, and individual freedom.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐾 Johannes rambles a lot, sometimes going almost stream of consciousness in his thread of thought. While this is fun, it is also confusing at times. It will be easier to go with the flow to keep up with this hyperactive but loveable dog.
🐾 The blurb calls this an illustrated novel, which is partly inaccurate. It is not replete with graphics, but there are nine fabulous watercolour full-page illustrations. These are classical landscapes by famous artists, on each of which illustrator Shawn Harris added Johannes. These are visually stunning! Every “painting” depicts Johannes at one with the park, either running or contemplating. So yes, you get nine paintings with Johannes, not a book full of illustrations.
🐾 Things do go a bit over the top at the end, but what the heck! It’s a children’s book – leave logic aside and enjoy!
Bookish Nays:
🐕 The plot has a mention of bird suicide. This wasn’t that important to the core story and could easily have been avoided, considering the target age of the readers.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 5 hrs 20 min, is narrated by actor Ethan Hawke. I have not watched him in any movie to date, but hearing him as Johannes makes me wonder what I might have missed. His performance is superlative! I don’t think I have ever heard a narrator be at one with his character to such an extent. If you have access to the audio version, then this book MUST be read through audio.
All in all, this was a fun ride. I adore dogs, so it was easy for me to enjoy a dog’s perspective in such an unusual story. The other animals added to the charm.
Definitely recommended! It’s a very good book, made great by the main character and the narrator.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to McSweeney's for providing the DRC of “The Eyes and the Impossible” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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May 28, 2023
This is the single most delightful book I've read in quite some time!!
Ostensibly published for the middle grade market, this is a story for readers of all ages. Dave has described the story to me as being set "in Golden Gate Park. Until it's not." Which is really the perfect way to put it. And the main character is Johannes, a dog who is the eyes of the park. He watches all, and reports back to the Bison.
I really don't feel the need to get into the plot. It is delightful, with adventure and strong themes of friendship. And I laughed out loud all the way through this book. Johannes directly addresses the reader in a very casual voice throughout the novel. And whether it's his inability to estimate numbers, or his antipathy towards ducks (Don't trust the ducks!), I was there for it.
In short, this book brought me joy. Absolute joy. And I know that I will be revisiting it for the rest of my life. And, hopefully sharing it with many, many people along the way.
Finally, a note on the format. So, the photo here is not the version of the book I have. There is a special edition published by McSweeny's that is one of the most beautiful books (as object) that I have ever seen, and it's being sold exclusively in independent bookstores. It has wood front and back covers, with a painting showing through burnouts on the front cover. There are full-color, edge-to-edge painted illustrations all throughout the novel. And there are gleaming gilt edges on all sides. It is simply stunning! And the most impressive thing of all? The beauty on the inside exceeds the beauty on the outside. With all of that going for it, it has an amazing $28 cover price. They're selling like hotcakes, and going fast. Get to your local independent bookstore and grab one fast. (Side advertisement: We have a few dozen copies signed by Dave at BookShop West Portal in San Francisco. Google us. We'll ship anywhere.). Also, the audiobook read by Ethan Hawke highlights every single bit of the considerable charm, humor and poignancy this novel has to offer. It is well worth listening to. Personally, I think every library needs multiple editions. THAT'S HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS!
Ostensibly published for the middle grade market, this is a story for readers of all ages. Dave has described the story to me as being set "in Golden Gate Park. Until it's not." Which is really the perfect way to put it. And the main character is Johannes, a dog who is the eyes of the park. He watches all, and reports back to the Bison.
I really don't feel the need to get into the plot. It is delightful, with adventure and strong themes of friendship. And I laughed out loud all the way through this book. Johannes directly addresses the reader in a very casual voice throughout the novel. And whether it's his inability to estimate numbers, or his antipathy towards ducks (Don't trust the ducks!), I was there for it.
In short, this book brought me joy. Absolute joy. And I know that I will be revisiting it for the rest of my life. And, hopefully sharing it with many, many people along the way.
Finally, a note on the format. So, the photo here is not the version of the book I have. There is a special edition published by McSweeny's that is one of the most beautiful books (as object) that I have ever seen, and it's being sold exclusively in independent bookstores. It has wood front and back covers, with a painting showing through burnouts on the front cover. There are full-color, edge-to-edge painted illustrations all throughout the novel. And there are gleaming gilt edges on all sides. It is simply stunning! And the most impressive thing of all? The beauty on the inside exceeds the beauty on the outside. With all of that going for it, it has an amazing $28 cover price. They're selling like hotcakes, and going fast. Get to your local independent bookstore and grab one fast. (Side advertisement: We have a few dozen copies signed by Dave at BookShop West Portal in San Francisco. Google us. We'll ship anywhere.). Also, the audiobook read by Ethan Hawke highlights every single bit of the considerable charm, humor and poignancy this novel has to offer. It is well worth listening to. Personally, I think every library needs multiple editions. THAT'S HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS!
May 28, 2024
What a tremendous book!
This 2024 Newbery Medal winner introduces the reader to a seemingly normal world of an urban park bounded on one side by the sea, enjoyed by many people and their pets. Unknown to the humans, the animals of the park have their own society, keeping watch on them. Johannes, a free dog with amazing skills, is the Eyes. He travels at amazing speed, observing all, and reporting to the three elderly bison who rule the park from their enclosure. When Johannes and his animal friends take on the task of freeing the bison, a remarkable and perilous adventure follows.
This wonderful tale can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.- Louisa A.
This 2024 Newbery Medal winner introduces the reader to a seemingly normal world of an urban park bounded on one side by the sea, enjoyed by many people and their pets. Unknown to the humans, the animals of the park have their own society, keeping watch on them. Johannes, a free dog with amazing skills, is the Eyes. He travels at amazing speed, observing all, and reporting to the three elderly bison who rule the park from their enclosure. When Johannes and his animal friends take on the task of freeing the bison, a remarkable and perilous adventure follows.
This wonderful tale can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.- Louisa A.
May 15, 2023
Audiobook….read by Ethan Hawke
…..5 hours and 18 minutes
This is a wonderful — animal/adventure children’s book, (middle school age appropriate), by one of my favorite authors and humanitarian: Dave Eggers.
The audiobook is fantastic.
We meet the star of our story:
*Johannes* ….. who is a free-roaming- fast-running dog that lives in an urban park by the sea. He sees everything. Johannes must have eyes in the back of his head—nothing gets past him unseen.
His job is to report back to the
three Bisons: (Samuel, Freya, and Meredith), who are the keepers of the Equilibrium.
Johannes has several animal, friends > a raccoon, a squirrel, an owl, a pelican, etc. He keeps a watch out for what human’s are doing.
Many of them don’t seem so nice…
……Throwing their empty water bottles down on the grass, spanking some kid, screaming at another, stealing….. etc.
Sonia, a squirrel, is one of Johannes best friends.
She’s missing an eye… and she spends much of her time living in the shade under a tree.
Yolanda is a pelican — clumsy, and gangly —— ludicrous in her flight. Yolanda is the only animal among their group who can read the English language.
Agnes is a raccoon. He has sleep apnea - and is chubby. Johannes has told him — with his medical challenges — he doesn’t have to be an eye watcher assistant but Agnes wants to help.
And secretly, Johannes is glad. He likes him.
The storytelling keeps getting better and better the further you get into it.
Humans making triangles is a proud moment, given the alternatives (bombs?) that some people make.
And the last few chapters is - - - ha! - - you think I’m spilling the beans? I’m not- so GO find it yourself……
Goooooooo!!!!!
Paul sat in the outdoor swing chair, me in the pool.
We listened together: laughing, giggling, making comments over a child’s act of treachery — and other potential naughtiness.
Johannes was starting to be confused about himself. He hadn’t touched another human in a thousand years.
But I can’t say more — other than there are messages to be taken in…
having us see how much better it feels when we are not held captive by another person’s leash.
“The Eyes of Impossible” encourages us to bask in the sun, be thankful for our freedoms, our family and friends, the birds, animals, and bees….and to be kind to one another……
Paul says:
“Egger’s book is as charming as can be”.
I agree!!!
…..5 hours and 18 minutes
This is a wonderful — animal/adventure children’s book, (middle school age appropriate), by one of my favorite authors and humanitarian: Dave Eggers.
The audiobook is fantastic.
We meet the star of our story:
*Johannes* ….. who is a free-roaming- fast-running dog that lives in an urban park by the sea. He sees everything. Johannes must have eyes in the back of his head—nothing gets past him unseen.
His job is to report back to the
three Bisons: (Samuel, Freya, and Meredith), who are the keepers of the Equilibrium.
Johannes has several animal, friends > a raccoon, a squirrel, an owl, a pelican, etc. He keeps a watch out for what human’s are doing.
Many of them don’t seem so nice…
……Throwing their empty water bottles down on the grass, spanking some kid, screaming at another, stealing….. etc.
Sonia, a squirrel, is one of Johannes best friends.
She’s missing an eye… and she spends much of her time living in the shade under a tree.
Yolanda is a pelican — clumsy, and gangly —— ludicrous in her flight. Yolanda is the only animal among their group who can read the English language.
Agnes is a raccoon. He has sleep apnea - and is chubby. Johannes has told him — with his medical challenges — he doesn’t have to be an eye watcher assistant but Agnes wants to help.
And secretly, Johannes is glad. He likes him.
The storytelling keeps getting better and better the further you get into it.
Humans making triangles is a proud moment, given the alternatives (bombs?) that some people make.
And the last few chapters is - - - ha! - - you think I’m spilling the beans? I’m not- so GO find it yourself……
Goooooooo!!!!!
Paul sat in the outdoor swing chair, me in the pool.
We listened together: laughing, giggling, making comments over a child’s act of treachery — and other potential naughtiness.
Johannes was starting to be confused about himself. He hadn’t touched another human in a thousand years.
But I can’t say more — other than there are messages to be taken in…
having us see how much better it feels when we are not held captive by another person’s leash.
“The Eyes of Impossible” encourages us to bask in the sun, be thankful for our freedoms, our family and friends, the birds, animals, and bees….and to be kind to one another……
Paul says:
“Egger’s book is as charming as can be”.
I agree!!!
February 25, 2024
I disliked this a lot.
It adds fuel to my conspiracy theory that many Newbery winners are not books that kiddos are going to want to read, but rather what adults want kiddos to read.
It adds fuel to my conspiracy theory that many Newbery winners are not books that kiddos are going to want to read, but rather what adults want kiddos to read.
April 11, 2025
Public library copy
It seems unlikely that my students will be interested in the lyrical, stream-of-consciousness style, even though they are usually fans of dog adventure stories. This leans too far into philosophical instrospection and quirkiness. I read the first paragraph to several classes, and there were a lot of wrinkled noses. Most of my students will return a book if it does not capture their interest in the first chapter. Your students may be different. Erin Hunter fans might enjoy the "bison elders". This might work better with elementary students than middle school ones. I liked the illustrations; they reminded me of pictures my parents had in the living room of our house in the 1960s.
Content warning for a bird who wants to commit suicide by diving into the sea.
There's also two whole pages of "I could go." repeated, which was... innovative?
Having read the description and investigated the author, this was exactly what I thought it would be. I will pass on purchase for my school library.
It seems unlikely that my students will be interested in the lyrical, stream-of-consciousness style, even though they are usually fans of dog adventure stories. This leans too far into philosophical instrospection and quirkiness. I read the first paragraph to several classes, and there were a lot of wrinkled noses. Most of my students will return a book if it does not capture their interest in the first chapter. Your students may be different. Erin Hunter fans might enjoy the "bison elders". This might work better with elementary students than middle school ones. I liked the illustrations; they reminded me of pictures my parents had in the living room of our house in the 1960s.
Content warning for a bird who wants to commit suicide by diving into the sea.
There's also two whole pages of "I could go." repeated, which was... innovative?
Having read the description and investigated the author, this was exactly what I thought it would be. I will pass on purchase for my school library.
January 22, 2024
The book was okay, I guess. I mean, I sort of enjoyed reading it. But other parts were not so great.
Reading how the dog ran as fast as the speed of light, and how he was a million years old, and how the park was thousands of miles wide, really got annoying. And it kept going. By the end, I was really getting tired of reading about all the exaggerations.
And the whole thing with the paintings and the museum? I actually thought that would be important in the end. Nope, not really important at all. And the ducks? Nope - not important either.
The artwork however was absolutely breathtaking. But it turns out the artist just took old museum pieces and drew the dog in them. Not impressive anymore.
Reading how the dog ran as fast as the speed of light, and how he was a million years old, and how the park was thousands of miles wide, really got annoying. And it kept going. By the end, I was really getting tired of reading about all the exaggerations.
And the whole thing with the paintings and the museum? I actually thought that would be important in the end. Nope, not really important at all. And the ducks? Nope - not important either.
The artwork however was absolutely breathtaking. But it turns out the artist just took old museum pieces and drew the dog in them. Not impressive anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2023
Let me begin with the sensory experience of the deluxe hardcover edition. A work of art in of itself. Die cut wood cover. Gold embossed cloth spine. Smooth, silky pages. 10 double page spread classical landscape illustrations from 1600’s - 1800’s into which illustrator Shawn Harris has cleverly placed our hero, Johannes, so skillfully that I didn’t realize they weren’t originals. This book’s production value is one of the finest I’ve seen.
The reading experience was similarly fine. I felt I was in the hands of a gifted storyteller. The tale of free dog Johannes is profound, poignant, very funny (what do you have against ducks, Dave?), action packed (once the story gets going), and an exhilarating read about home and the unknown and what it means to be truly free.
Yes, this novel would make a great read aloud or independent read for middle graders, but that limits its reach. Categorizing books into genre is a marketing tool. This truly is an all ages read. For readers traumatized by Old Yeller or Charlotte’s Web, read assured knowing that this is not that.
“When I run, I pull at the earth and make it turn”
I also sampled the audiobook, narrated by Ethan Hawke. So good!
The reading experience was similarly fine. I felt I was in the hands of a gifted storyteller. The tale of free dog Johannes is profound, poignant, very funny (what do you have against ducks, Dave?), action packed (once the story gets going), and an exhilarating read about home and the unknown and what it means to be truly free.
Yes, this novel would make a great read aloud or independent read for middle graders, but that limits its reach. Categorizing books into genre is a marketing tool. This truly is an all ages read. For readers traumatized by Old Yeller or Charlotte’s Web, read assured knowing that this is not that.
“When I run, I pull at the earth and make it turn”
I also sampled the audiobook, narrated by Ethan Hawke. So good!
January 30, 2024
wish I was in my 4th grade classroom so I could read aloud this and talk to kids about it
August 2, 2025
Just the most wonderful, uplifting, heart-expanding kids’ book I’ve ever read! And such a beautiful, imaginative, nearly all-animal story!! What could be better? Sure, there are a few humans in the background, but mostly it’s just the animals, starring Johannes (a dog; the Eyes), his best friend, Bertrand (a seagull), Sonja (a squirrel), Yolanda (a pelican), Angus (a raccoon), Freya, Meredith, and Samuel (the bison), and too many others to name. For Johannes, in the early days there was also Joanie, Janie, Steven, and Leonard (his litter mates). His mother—who was a “kept dog” (a pet)—came to the park to have her puppies in the hollow of a big tree where Johannes still lives. The next day, she lifted little Leonard with her mouth and carried him home where, we assume, her “pet parents” were happy to meet him, and now raise them both as pets. (More about this is revealed near the end of the book.)
And now there was just Johannes, and his brother and two sisters. How did the pups survive on their own? Another animal fed them for a couple weeks til they were strong enough to make it on their own. Their memories are cloudy, though, so they couldn't tell you what kind of animal it was. But soon they were scrounging for whatever they could find in the park, until the day they discovered the garbage by the snack vendors. After that, they ate heartily from the bins, until the day they disappeared. One day, while watching the humans dancing near the bridge, they heard approaching humans say they’re just puppies; so tiny and cute! Suddenly they lifted Steven and Joanie. Johannes backed away telling Janie to RUN! But she didn’t. She stayed and was picked up too. He guesses they’re all pets now.🙁
Later on, Johannes would sum up his life this way:
The Eyes & the Impossible is an incredible story to be enjoyed by both kids and adults! No matter how old you are, I swear this book will fill your heart with love. Guaranteed! It’ll make you smile more than you’ve smiled in years, and at least a few tears will fill your eyes because, predictably, into every life, death follows. Very sadly, the same is true for animals, and what’s worse is their lives are so much shorter than ours. But somehow, animals have the right attitude about life and death. We could stand to learn a lot from them! But aside from one sad passing, there’s so much fun and happiness!! I highly recommend this book to you and to all those you love.
And this is where I’ll give a shout out to all the animals in my life—past, present, and to those yet to come… Thank you, sweet souls, for making my life worth living and my heart worth loving. The way you live should be an example to ALL living things—Live in the Moment, Love Unconditionally, and Always Forgive.💗🐾💞
“Things–are–never–quite–as–scary–when–you’ve–got–a–best–friend” 5-stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And now there was just Johannes, and his brother and two sisters. How did the pups survive on their own? Another animal fed them for a couple weeks til they were strong enough to make it on their own. Their memories are cloudy, though, so they couldn't tell you what kind of animal it was. But soon they were scrounging for whatever they could find in the park, until the day they discovered the garbage by the snack vendors. After that, they ate heartily from the bins, until the day they disappeared. One day, while watching the humans dancing near the bridge, they heard approaching humans say they’re just puppies; so tiny and cute! Suddenly they lifted Steven and Joanie. Johannes backed away telling Janie to RUN! But she didn’t. She stayed and was picked up too. He guesses they’re all pets now.🙁
Later on, Johannes would sum up his life this way:
We were hungry but we were free. I still fend and I still scrounge and am still free, have always been free. No one feeds me. I am unkept and free. This is my life. God is the Sun. Clouds are her messengers. Rain is only rain.This last part comes up several times in the book—like a mantra for all the animals in the park. God is the Sun. Clouds are her messengers. Rain is only rain. Then the big adventure begins as all the animals work together to hatch a plan to free the bison—Freya, Meredith, and Samuel—from their pen where they’ve spent their entire lives.
The Eyes & the Impossible is an incredible story to be enjoyed by both kids and adults! No matter how old you are, I swear this book will fill your heart with love. Guaranteed! It’ll make you smile more than you’ve smiled in years, and at least a few tears will fill your eyes because, predictably, into every life, death follows. Very sadly, the same is true for animals, and what’s worse is their lives are so much shorter than ours. But somehow, animals have the right attitude about life and death. We could stand to learn a lot from them! But aside from one sad passing, there’s so much fun and happiness!! I highly recommend this book to you and to all those you love.
And this is where I’ll give a shout out to all the animals in my life—past, present, and to those yet to come… Thank you, sweet souls, for making my life worth living and my heart worth loving. The way you live should be an example to ALL living things—Live in the Moment, Love Unconditionally, and Always Forgive.💗🐾💞
“Things–are–never–quite–as–scary–when–you’ve–got–a–best–friend” 5-stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 29, 2023
Listen to the audio with Ethan Hawke, who should narrate more middle grade books. Loved the running jokes that all ducks are morons, that animals have a wildly inaccurate sense of time, and that raccoons are arrogant (but gracious) about their opposable thumbs. Delightful, funny, and poignant.
March 12, 2025
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
The illustrations were lovely. 👍🏻🌟 I loved the idea of them being from a diverse range of artists, with only the inclusion of Johannes, a free dog of limitless propulsive capacity and eyes without obstacle, in each of their picturesque classical landscapes by artists long departed. 🖼️🐕 I liked the strong sense of community and loyalty, some amusing friendships, although I had difficulty comprehending Johannes' disdain of ducks; definitely seemed unwarranted! But, for the life of me, I don't understand how this would appeal to the audience that it is intended for - kids. 🤨
“It seemed a clear truth that helping with anything or anyone at any time brought with it a unique kind of burden.”
Suddenly there was an onslaught of philosophical allusions and unique symbolism relating Johannes' life to that of breaking free and running true that I was baffled. Not to mention the slight digs to the Trouble Travelers and humanity's disregard for the beauty of the wilderness and the simple pleasures and blessings that we take for granted- 'if everyone was looking for me, I could no longer be the Eyes. I could no longer be free.' 🥺 It became so heavy on the emphasis, I assumed it was written with the intention of being a book that would be assigned reading, rather than for pleasure. What started off with the potential of being an adventurous tale veered off into an allegorical one, especially when words of wisdom started appearing that felt like they were deliberate rather than easy-reading. 🙍🏻♀️
“If there are troubles in your mind, you should think first of the troubles of others; it is the essence of liberation. That is, freedom begins the moment we forget ourselves.”
See? What "young reader" is going to appreciate it for enjoyment, let alone catch it, if not marking it down for a comprehension test? 🤔 I didn't like this --- for lack of another word, baiting. It made me feel like I was searching for ways to draw more symbolic connections between Johannes' struggles and efforts to save the bison, rather than what should simply have been an adventure. 😕 On top of that, he was a very smart and learned dog! It's hard to believe he had such an incredible vocabulary, heck all the animals were too intellectual for me. Can I enumerate them? That's an animal speaking, not me. 🤨 I know everyone is entitled to their own interpretation when it comes to having animals as the characters, but the message as a whole - considering the audience - seemed misplaced.
It did not start off as such - I'll give it that. 😔 When Johannes encountered danger, I was actually hopeful it would veer in that direction. The reveals - hurt; and when you draw the comparisons to real-life - which, honestly, is what the author was aiming to achieve - it is enough for any reader who relates to Johannes may feel something for it. But, as the story progressed, as the author guided us to his well meaning intentions, along with Johannes' dogged (y'know, I had to 😊) pursuit to serve as fulfill his role as The Eyes and the Impossible task he had set out on to break free of his own shackles holding him back, I too was losing hope and enjoyment of it being a good read. 😞
“We all have something that blinds us to threats.”
The illustrations were lovely. 👍🏻🌟 I loved the idea of them being from a diverse range of artists, with only the inclusion of Johannes, a free dog of limitless propulsive capacity and eyes without obstacle, in each of their picturesque classical landscapes by artists long departed. 🖼️🐕 I liked the strong sense of community and loyalty, some amusing friendships, although I had difficulty comprehending Johannes' disdain of ducks; definitely seemed unwarranted! But, for the life of me, I don't understand how this would appeal to the audience that it is intended for - kids. 🤨
“It seemed a clear truth that helping with anything or anyone at any time brought with it a unique kind of burden.”
Suddenly there was an onslaught of philosophical allusions and unique symbolism relating Johannes' life to that of breaking free and running true that I was baffled. Not to mention the slight digs to the Trouble Travelers and humanity's disregard for the beauty of the wilderness and the simple pleasures and blessings that we take for granted- 'if everyone was looking for me, I could no longer be the Eyes. I could no longer be free.' 🥺 It became so heavy on the emphasis, I assumed it was written with the intention of being a book that would be assigned reading, rather than for pleasure. What started off with the potential of being an adventurous tale veered off into an allegorical one, especially when words of wisdom started appearing that felt like they were deliberate rather than easy-reading. 🙍🏻♀️
“If there are troubles in your mind, you should think first of the troubles of others; it is the essence of liberation. That is, freedom begins the moment we forget ourselves.”
See? What "young reader" is going to appreciate it for enjoyment, let alone catch it, if not marking it down for a comprehension test? 🤔 I didn't like this --- for lack of another word, baiting. It made me feel like I was searching for ways to draw more symbolic connections between Johannes' struggles and efforts to save the bison, rather than what should simply have been an adventure. 😕 On top of that, he was a very smart and learned dog! It's hard to believe he had such an incredible vocabulary, heck all the animals were too intellectual for me. Can I enumerate them? That's an animal speaking, not me. 🤨 I know everyone is entitled to their own interpretation when it comes to having animals as the characters, but the message as a whole - considering the audience - seemed misplaced.
It did not start off as such - I'll give it that. 😔 When Johannes encountered danger, I was actually hopeful it would veer in that direction. The reveals - hurt; and when you draw the comparisons to real-life - which, honestly, is what the author was aiming to achieve - it is enough for any reader who relates to Johannes may feel something for it. But, as the story progressed, as the author guided us to his well meaning intentions, along with Johannes' dogged (y'know, I had to 😊) pursuit to serve as fulfill his role as The Eyes and the Impossible task he had set out on to break free of his own shackles holding him back, I too was losing hope and enjoyment of it being a good read. 😞
April 15, 2024
A strange and beautiful story. And . . . yeah. Not sure what else to say. Except that I'm baffled that I hadn't heard of this until it won the Newbery Award. A book, with full color illustrations, written by a very famous author, and with an audiobook narrated by Ethan Hawke . . . how was this not a bigger deal when it first came out? But at any rate: I'm glad it won the Newbery because I'm very glad that I was made aware of it so that I could read it to my kids.
February 18, 2024
I read this book because it recently won the Newbery Award. I have no idea what was in the committee members' heads as this book rose to the top of their list of best books for children. I have read so many wonderful children's/YA books this year, and the choice that THIS book was the best of the year?!?! I am shaking my head and rolling my eyes all at once.
And if this book doesn't have a larger allegorical meaning like the author says, then it really is a DUD. I'm sorry I wasted time reading it.
Do better, Newbery committee. This was a lame choice.
And if this book doesn't have a larger allegorical meaning like the author says, then it really is a DUD. I'm sorry I wasted time reading it.
Do better, Newbery committee. This was a lame choice.
May 14, 2023
First off, if you can listen to this on audiobook it is SOOOOOO worth it! Second, the wood grain cover is gorgeous. Sometimes its okay to judge a book by its cover. I say this because I saw this book and was intrigued immediately. Now, if you don't like reading a story in an animal's point of view this book might not be for you. I love a book comprised of animals though so lets keep going...Told from the point of view of Johannes, a dog (a very very very fast dog), this is life in what I would definitely assume Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. There's bison, gulls, dogs, racoons, squirrels, and goats all in this majestic park. The bison are the equilibrium keepers of the park and Johannes is their eyes, constantly keeping an eye out for the latest news to report back. Johannes is a dog that has no desire to be a "kept dog" and so he calls this park home. As a watcher of the park Johannes and friends are constantly patrolling the area, including figuring out what new buildings are being built in their world, one that will encroach on their habitat. Johannes may not know it but he is searching for more in life, to better the lives of everyone, including the wise bison. Tag along with Johannes as he soars through the park for more than he has ever anticipated.
The word choice in this book is amazing. You could assume there would be use of the word "running" but Dave Eggers uses such a diverse description and curated choice of words that you will never be bored. Again, if you can listen to this on audiobook do it. Even if this book is targeted for 9-12 year old children, this book was such a pleasure and holds a soft spot in my heart for such beauty of Golden Gate Park.
The word choice in this book is amazing. You could assume there would be use of the word "running" but Dave Eggers uses such a diverse description and curated choice of words that you will never be bored. Again, if you can listen to this on audiobook do it. Even if this book is targeted for 9-12 year old children, this book was such a pleasure and holds a soft spot in my heart for such beauty of Golden Gate Park.
November 30, 2023
2.5 stars. It’s a beautiful book but I wasn’t gripped by the story. It seemed all over the place. Maybe that was the point? To see life from a dog’s point of view?
April 28, 2025
Happy publication day 🥳🎉🎧
Dare I say that this is a classic in the making? Yep, I dare. What a fantastic children’s book. For me a great children’s book is one that the adult reader can enjoy as much as the child, and I thoroughly enjoyed this. If you can listen to the audiobook, do.
Suitable for all ages really, but this would make for a brilliant first chapter book, it’s full of excitement, has lots of lovely sentiments about friendship, self discovery and freedom. It’s also wordy, wordy in a wondrous “I’ve never heard this word before” type of way. How better to learn than to be excited by words 😊
Ethan Hawke’s narration is a masterpiece!
Huge thanks to Bolinda Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Dare I say that this is a classic in the making? Yep, I dare. What a fantastic children’s book. For me a great children’s book is one that the adult reader can enjoy as much as the child, and I thoroughly enjoyed this. If you can listen to the audiobook, do.
Suitable for all ages really, but this would make for a brilliant first chapter book, it’s full of excitement, has lots of lovely sentiments about friendship, self discovery and freedom. It’s also wordy, wordy in a wondrous “I’ve never heard this word before” type of way. How better to learn than to be excited by words 😊
Ethan Hawke’s narration is a masterpiece!
Huge thanks to Bolinda Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Read
January 30, 2024"I run like a rocket. I run like a laser. You have never seen speed like mine. When I run I pull at the earth and make it turn."
Read
March 4, 202430 second review here https://www.instagram.com/p/C3_vL1oLgSF/
March 30, 2024
“Freedom begins the moment we forget ourselves.”
“There is more!”
“The sun is God. The clouds are her messengers. The rain is just rain.”
This book is pure poetry.
I wasn’t prepared to get so emotional over a middle grade book about a stray dog and his monitor duties in a park.
Johannes is a wonderful protagonist and narrator as we watch him navigate the strange yet beautiful way of the world. His connection to his fellow wild animals on this sacred council to keep the peace in the park and his love for learning was so warm to witness.
It’s a story that manages to be equal parts funny, lovely, and emotional and I’ll just never get over it.
CW: brief moments of bullying, attempted suicide, references to dead loved ones
“There is more!”
“The sun is God. The clouds are her messengers. The rain is just rain.”
This book is pure poetry.
I wasn’t prepared to get so emotional over a middle grade book about a stray dog and his monitor duties in a park.
Johannes is a wonderful protagonist and narrator as we watch him navigate the strange yet beautiful way of the world. His connection to his fellow wild animals on this sacred council to keep the peace in the park and his love for learning was so warm to witness.
It’s a story that manages to be equal parts funny, lovely, and emotional and I’ll just never get over it.
CW: brief moments of bullying, attempted suicide, references to dead loved ones
February 22, 2024
I usually refrain from commenting when I haven't finished the book, but this one has me stumped. How was this selected as the Newbery winner? I couldn't care enough about the dog or story to continue reading. Is there a child that would?
January 23, 2024
I could not get into this book. Just not for me and had a hard time thinking of a student who would enjoy it.
March 6, 2024
Could this be a classic someday? This story about Johannes, a dog who discovers his purpose could lead to many philosophical discussions and offers much food for thought. In my opinion, it would make a great family read-aloud. At times I felt this read more for adults than children which could also be said of some of the classics (Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, William Shakespeare) that are shared with young readers.
Based on the blurbs/plugs on the back cover from other children's authors (Jon Scieszka, Maile Meloy, Jon Klassen, Annie Barrows and Mac Barnett), it seems others have similar thoughts.
". . . A must read. For all humans." Jon Scieszka
". . . Honestly, it's the best all-ages novel I've read in years. . . ." Annie Barrows
Give this to those families who are looking for something more complex for their young children.
Based on the blurbs/plugs on the back cover from other children's authors (Jon Scieszka, Maile Meloy, Jon Klassen, Annie Barrows and Mac Barnett), it seems others have similar thoughts.
". . . A must read. For all humans." Jon Scieszka
". . . Honestly, it's the best all-ages novel I've read in years. . . ." Annie Barrows
Give this to those families who are looking for something more complex for their young children.
August 29, 2023
Wat een ongelooflijk bijzonder boek.
Een heel uniek perspectief, dat vind ik heel leuk lezen.
En wat is het ongelooflijk mooi geschreven en prachtig vertaald. Een waar pareltje.
Ik heb dit boek voorgelezen aan Björn, vandaar dat ik er zo lang over heb gedaan, maar wat is dit een prachtig boek om voor te lezen!
Een heel uniek perspectief, dat vind ik heel leuk lezen.
En wat is het ongelooflijk mooi geschreven en prachtig vertaald. Een waar pareltje.
Ik heb dit boek voorgelezen aan Björn, vandaar dat ik er zo lang over heb gedaan, maar wat is dit een prachtig boek om voor te lezen!
January 27, 2024
So delightful ❤️ Would be an amazing read aloud for grades 2-4
Source: school library hardcover
Source: school library hardcover
May 27, 2024
Such an endearing book! Loved every moment of it. Lots of great little parallels to the real world. Our hero grows so much throughout. Proud of him!
January 13, 2024
The first time I read it (I feel required to try again), I found it opaque and hard to stick with. And had questions, among them why it was marketed as a children’s book.
I had a professor who said, to a student who found Stein opaque and hard to stick with, “Maybe you just weren’t invited to the party.”
I don’t think l was invited to Johannes’s party.
I had a professor who said, to a student who found Stein opaque and hard to stick with, “Maybe you just weren’t invited to the party.”
I don’t think l was invited to Johannes’s party.
August 4, 2023
Ethan Hawke brought the book alive in audiobook- highly recommend this format.
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