The Eyes and the Impossible, Dave Eggers
The Eyes and the Impossible, Dave Eggers
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The Eyes and the Impossible
(Newbery Medal Winner)

Author: Dave Eggers

Narrator: Ethan Hawke

Unabridged: 5 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/09/2023


Synopsis

NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER • #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

An enthralling novel for all ages by award-winning author Dave Eggers, told from the perspective of one uniquely endearing dog.

“Johannes is a highly engaging narrator whose exuberance and good nature run like a bright thread through the novel’s pages.” —The New York Times

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 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.

This story about friendship, beauty, and liberation (and running very, very fast) will make listeners of all ages see the world around them in a wholly new way.

About The Author

Dave Eggers is the author of the Newbery Medal winner The Eyes and the Impossible, along with bestsellers The Every, The Monk of Mokha, The Circle, A Hologram for the King, and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. His work has been nominated for the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He is the founder of McSweeney’s, an independent publishing company based in San Francisco, and cofounder of 826 National, a network of educational centers around the country offering free tutoring to kids of all backgrounds.He lives in Northern California with his family.Shawn Harris is the author/illustrator of Have You Ever Seen a Flower?, which won a Caldecott Honor Award. He is the illustrator of Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, which received seven starred reviews, was an Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book, an ALA Notable, and a PW Best Book of the Year. His other picture books include Eggers's What Can a Citizen Do (a Time Magazine Best Children's Book), Everyone's Awake by Colin Meloy, and A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett.Shawn got his start as an illustrator in the early 2000s, creating album art for bands, including his own, the Matches. He lives in Northern California and enjoys surfing.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Betsy on April 07, 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. T......more

Goodreads review by Rosh ~on extended semihiatus~ on October 07, 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Plot Preview: Johannes, proud of being a free dog rather than a “kept dog”, lives in a park filled with animals a......more

Goodreads review by Scottsdale Public Library on 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 f......more

Goodreads review by Thomas on 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 reall......more

Goodreads review by Monica on January 30, 2024

wish I was in my 4th grade classroom so I could read aloud this and talk to kids about it......more


Quotes

"Johannes is a highly engaging narrator whose exuberance and good nature run like a bright thread through the novel’s pages…. There is a deeper story here, too, about being yourself and finding freedom." —New York Times

“[Johannes is] one of the most appealing heroes in recent children’s literature... an early standout for 2023 and, as it happens, a lot of fun to read aloud.” —The Wall Street Journal

“This outstanding adventure story weaves complex thoughts about loyalty, friendship, and purpose into an epic escape plot that's pure bliss to read.” —Common Sense Media

“This book is begging to be read aloud to oneself and to others. You’ll want to use your most special bookmark and find an honored place to keep this gem.” The Denver Post

★ “Utterly delightful…. Eggers touches on deep topics with a light hand, effortlessly building suspense and a wonderful sense of adventure.” —Booklist, starred review

★ "One remarkable creature vividly shows readers that ‘there is so, so much to see.’” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Eggers crafts a marvelous, fully fleshed protagonist in Johannes....whose compassionate narration delivers a rousing tale of community, joyful self-reliance, and the pleasures of running very, very fast.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Animal lovers will be enthralled, and even for readers who mostly stick with humans, this is a standout example of the power of chosen family rather than biological ones." —The Bulletin, starred review

★ “The Eyes and the Impossible is compelling and heartfelt, destined to be read again and again.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

★ “Almost proselike, the voices and personalities of Johannes and his comrades are endearing; their unique story will enchant readers and encourage them to focus on what is most important in life.” —School Library Journal, starred review


Awards

  • John Newbery Medal