The Eyes and the Impossible: (Newbery Medal Winner)
About this product
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—featuring beautiful artwork from Caldecott honoree Shawn Harris. “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.
Lushly illustrated with old world paintings and new artwork from Caldecott honoree Shawn Harris, this story about friendship, beauty, liberation (and running very, very fast), will make readers of all ages see the world around them in a wholly new way. Read more
Editor's Take
Amazon reviewers and Goodreads readers generally praise The Eyes and the Impossible for its charm, memorable narration, and unusual animal-point-of-view storytelling. Several reviews describe it as funny, touching, and well-written, with many readers saying it stands out as a strong Newbery-winning middle-grade book.
Review blogs are similarly positive, calling it imaginative, heartfelt, and a good fit for kids who enjoy animal adventure stories. Some reviewers mention the audiobook narration and illustrations as highlights, while a few note that the pacing or style may not work equally well for every reader.
On Reddit and other discussion spaces, the book is often framed as a beautiful, distinctive children’s read with broad appeal, especially for fans of literary middle-grade fiction. Overall sentiment appears strongly favorable, with most feedback emphasizing originality, warmth, and emotional impact.
Price History
Specifications
| Illustrated | No |
Product Details
| Publisher | Yearling |
| Publication date | April 1, 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 256 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 152476423X |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1524764234 |
| Item Weight | 1.4 pounds |
| Reading age | 8+ years, from customers |
| Dimensions | 6.56 x 0.95 x 8 inches |
| Grade level | 3 - 7 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #5,151 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #31 in Children's Dog Books (Books) #136 in Children's Friendship Books #138 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,549) |
