The Eyes and the Impossible

2023 children's book by Dave Eggers

The Eyes and the Impossible

Author	Dave Eggers
Illustrator	Shawn Harris
Language	English
Publisher	McSweeney’s, Knopf
Publication date	May 9, 2023
Publication place	United States
Pages	256
Awards	Newbery Medal (2024)
ISBN	978-1-5247-6420-3

The Eyes and the Impossible is a 2023 all-ages book written by Dave Eggers with illustrations by Shawn Harris. It tells the story of Johannes, a dog appointed by three elderly bison to be the "eyes" of the park in which they live. The book was praised by critics and was the recipient of the 2024 Newbery Medal.

Reception

The Eyes and the Impossible was received positively by critics, including starred reviews by Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. Writing for The Booklist, Emily Graham called the book "delightful" and praised the way the narration of the story was done through the dog's eyes, noting similarities to one of Eggers' short stories, "After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned". Michelle Shaw, for the School Library Journal, said the book's "unique story will enchant readers and encourage them to focus on what is most important in life."

Kirkus Reviews commented on how the narration is a "mix of poetic language, sophisticated vocabulary, philosophy, humor, hyperbole, and both short declarative and run-on sentences," and praised Shawn Harris' art found throughout the book. Publishers Weekly calls Johannes a "fully fleshed protagonist" due to the multiple perspectives he offers during the narration of the story.

References

Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma; Jones, Iyana (January 22, 2024). "Eggers, Harrison, King Win 2024 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
^ "The Eyes & the Impossible". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
^ "The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers". Publishers Weekly. March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
Graham, Emily (Feb 15, 2023). "The Eyes and the Impossible". The Booklist. 119 (12): 64-65.
Shaw, Michele (September 2023). "Middle Grade". School Library Journal. 69 (9): 1.

Awards
Preceded byFreewater	Newbery Medal recipient 2024	Succeeded byIncumbent

v t e Newbery Medal–winning works
1922–1925	The Story of Mankind (1922) The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1923) The Dark Frigate (1924) Tales from Silver Lands (1925)
1926–1950	Shen of the Sea (1926) Smoky the Cowhorse (1927) Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon (1928) The Trumpeter of Krakow (1929) Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (1930) The Cat Who Went to Heaven (1931) Waterless Mountain (1932) Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze (1933) Invincible Louisa (1934) Dobry (1935) Caddie Woodlawn (1936) Roller Skates (1937) The White Stag (1938) Thimble Summer (1939) Daniel Boone (1940) Call It Courage (1941) The Matchlock Gun (1942) Adam of the Road (1943) Johnny Tremain (1944) Rabbit Hill (1945) Strawberry Girl (1946) Miss Hickory (1947) The Twenty-One Balloons (1948) King of the Wind (1949) The Door in the Wall (1950)
1951–1975	Amos Fortune, Free Man (1951) Ginger Pye (1952) Secret of the Andes (1953) ...And Now Miguel (1954) The Wheel on the School (1955) Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (1956) Miracles on Maple Hill (1957) Rifles for Watie (1958) The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1959) Onion John (1960) Island of the Blue Dolphins (1961) The Bronze Bow (1962) A Wrinkle in Time (1963) It's Like This, Cat (1964) Shadow of a Bull (1965) I, Juan de Pareja (1966) Up a Road Slowly (1967) From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1968) The High King (1969) Sounder (1970) Summer of the Swans (1971) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1972) Julie of the Wolves (1973) The Slave Dancer (1974) M. C. Higgins, the Great (1975)
1976–2000	The Grey King (1976) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1977) Bridge to Terabithia (1978) The Westing Game (1979) A Gathering of Days (1980) Jacob Have I Loved (1981) A Visit to William Blake's Inn (1982) Dicey's Song (1983) Dear Mr. Henshaw (1984) The Hero and the Crown (1985) Sarah, Plain and Tall (1986) The Whipping Boy (1987) Lincoln (1988) Joyful Noise (1989) Number the Stars (1990) Maniac Magee (1991) Shiloh (1992) Missing May (1993) The Giver (1994) Walk Two Moons (1995) The Midwife's Apprentice (1996) The View from Saturday (1997) Out of the Dust (1998) Holes (1999) Bud, Not Buddy (2000)
2001–present	A Year Down Yonder (2001) A Single Shard (2002) Crispin (2003) The Tale of Despereaux (2004) Kira-Kira (2005) Criss Cross (2006) The Higher Power of Lucky (2007) Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! (2008) The Graveyard Book (2009) When You Reach Me (2010) Moon Over Manifest (2011) Dead End in Norvelt (2012) The One and Only Ivan (2013) Flora & Ulysses (2014) The Crossover (2015) Last Stop on Market Street (2016) The Girl Who Drank the Moon (2017) Hello, Universe (2018) Merci Suárez Changes Gears (2019) New Kid (2020) When You Trap a Tiger (2021) The Last Cuentista (2022) Freewater (2023) The Eyes and the Impossible (2024) The First State of Being (2025)

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