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The Eyes and 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
About the author
Dave Eggers
295 books8,814 followersDave Eggers is the author of ten books, including most recently Your Fathers, Where Are They? And the Prophets, Do They Live Forever?, The Circle and A Hologram for the King, which was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Award. He is the founder of McSweeney’s, an independent publishing company based in San Francisco that produces books, a quarterly journal of new writing (McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern), and a monthly magazine, The Believer. McSweeney’s also publishes Voice of Witness, a nonprofit book series that uses oral history to illuminate human rights crises around the world. Eggers is the co-founder of 826 National, a network of eight tutoring centers around the country and ScholarMatch, a nonprofit organization designed to connect students with resources, schools and donors to make college possible. He lives in Northern California with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,212 reviews
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?”
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.
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 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!!!
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
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 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.
January 26, 2024
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.
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.
Read
March 4, 202430 second review here https://www.instagram.com/p/C3_vL1oLgSF/
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.
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."
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
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
January 27, 2024
So delightful ❤️ Would be an amazing read aloud for grades 2-4
Source: school library hardcover
Source: school library hardcover
August 4, 2023
Ethan Hawke brought the book alive in audiobook- highly recommend this format.
October 25, 2023
This was absolutely delightful. I listened to the audiobook, and Ethan Hawke does an amazing job. I’ve been recommending it to everyone! One of my new favorites.
January 5, 2024
This was glorious. I hope this year’s Odyssey committee is keeping their ears peeled toward Hawk’s suburb audio performance.
February 20, 2024
The Eyes and the Impossible was awarded the Newbery Medal for 2024. I had not heard of this book; I had not read any reviews or heard reference to it in the past year, which made me want to read it all the more. The Newbery is awarded every year to the author of what is considered the most outstanding children's book of the year. The medal was established to encourage creative writing for children.
This year's winner is indeed creative; there will be children who will love the fantasy of animals protecting one another, living on a fantastical island and surviving among humans. But those readers, I venture to guess, will be older than what this book is intended for, and younger readers may struggle with remembering which animal is called what human name and what their unique skill is. Some kids will struggle with the human-like qualities of the animals and THEIR struggles for survival. Also, the metaphors may be difficult to understand for younger readers.
I'm a little disappointed in this book and struggled with trying to determine exactly what the Newbery committee saw in this book that made it the best of 2024.
This year's winner is indeed creative; there will be children who will love the fantasy of animals protecting one another, living on a fantastical island and surviving among humans. But those readers, I venture to guess, will be older than what this book is intended for, and younger readers may struggle with remembering which animal is called what human name and what their unique skill is. Some kids will struggle with the human-like qualities of the animals and THEIR struggles for survival. Also, the metaphors may be difficult to understand for younger readers.
I'm a little disappointed in this book and struggled with trying to determine exactly what the Newbery committee saw in this book that made it the best of 2024.
February 21, 2024
Newbery Award winner - not as good as past ones. Doubt it will be popular with kids. That's always the problem when well meaning adults decide on best books for kids. just saying
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?
October 8, 2023
The audiobook read by Ethan Hawke is exquisite.
March 16, 2024
Johannes is a dog who was abandoned as a pup and has grown up to become the watcher of the park where his animal friends live and three magical bison live and keep the balance. He has also gained the ability to run extremely fast. However, everything changes when something new is being built at the park and he’s now wanted after he saves a little girl from drowning. It will all put him on a journey on who he is and how he might save his friends.
“TE&TI” is a very amazing and spiritual fable that’s certainly deep and thought-provoking for a children’s novel. While Eggers is more known for writing more obscure and surreal stories, he does a fantastic job with Johannes’ story. It definitely contains many elements found in other beloved fables like “Bambi”, “Pax” and “The One and Only Ivan” series. Middle school readers, and even adults, will be in for a somber and emotional tale about a dog who watches out for his home. A (100%/Outstanding)
“TE&TI” is a very amazing and spiritual fable that’s certainly deep and thought-provoking for a children’s novel. While Eggers is more known for writing more obscure and surreal stories, he does a fantastic job with Johannes’ story. It definitely contains many elements found in other beloved fables like “Bambi”, “Pax” and “The One and Only Ivan” series. Middle school readers, and even adults, will be in for a somber and emotional tale about a dog who watches out for his home. A (100%/Outstanding)
January 2, 2024
So very charming. I'll be recommending this one widely!
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