Newbery Gold: The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

It wasn’t on our Bingo Card, maybe because it was published early last year and we (I) kind of forgot it. But The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers captured this year’s most honored award for children’s literature. A solid choice; we’ve re-posted our review below.

The committee chose five honor books this year, and we’ve reviewed or discussed all except two. They are

Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson

Eagle Drums by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri

In my two Newbery roundups, I (Janie) struck out except for one title: Mexikid. Mexikid was a big winner yesterday, capturing both Pura Belpre awards (for illustration and text), as well as Newbery silver. I enjoyed it; it’s loads of fun with a strong family dynamic and some genuine emotional heft.

Over the next few weeks, we hope to follow up with more award-winners from the Caldecott, Corretta Scott King, Pura Belpre, Sibert and YA nonfiction, Sidney Taylor, and Geisel awards, as well as any others we find worthwhile. These are books you will see displayed in your local public or school library, and many of them will be worth checking out. We’ll do our best to keep you informed!

Now for the Newbery Gold:

The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers. Knopf, 2023, 249 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 8-14

The Eyes of a Dog

“I turn I turn I turn before I lie to sleep and I rise before the sun.” Johannes is a dog, as he informs us right away. His mother was housekept but chose to bear her litter of five in the wilderness—after which she returned to the house taking one of the pups with her. Three others were taken up by humans, but Johannes “ran into the woods where I remained free and became the Eyes.” That is, he’s a watchdog keeping track of events in the national park in order to report to Freya, Meredith, and Samuel, the resident bison. They are the oldest and wisest, the Keepers of the Equilibrium, but confined to a three-acre enclosure. That’s why observant Johannes makes an excellent “Eyes.” Four Assistant Eyes round out his vision: Bertrand the gull, Sonja the one-eyed squirrel, Yolanda the pelican, and Angus the raccoon.

The Assistants represent and speak for every animal in the park, and they look out for each other against the wiles of humans. Granted, some humans are decent and respectful, but there are others, like the Trouble Travelers who abduct Johannes while he’s distracted. Fortunately, while he wasn’t watching the Assistants were watching out for him and cobbled together a successful rescue plan. Johannes is grateful, but unsettled. The thing that distracted him to begin with was an art exhibit at the park, a series of landscapes that took him out of himself and suggested a dimension of freedom he’s never known. The more he reflects on it, the more he becomes convinced that he has a mission beyond observing and reporting: that is, to release the bison from their enclosure and let them roam again.

Every reasonable creature knows that the worst thing any creature can do all day is think of themselves. 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.

His mission is Impossible, but the Assistants are willing to help. If all the parts come together, it can work. But what if the bison are not, ultimately, the ones who need to be freed?

“Freedom begins the moment we forget ourselves.”

The book is beautifully written with enough idiosyncratic touches to convince us it’s a dog talking. For instance, Johannes has no concept of time: “It was not long ago. I would estimate it to be about two hundred years ago.” His friends have their blind spots and humorous touches as well. Oddly, there are no natural predators in the park, but no reader will mind that while immersed in the narrative. The lush, double-page illustrations are all classical landscapes (referenced in the appendix) with Johannes incorporated. It’s a beautiful touch to a beautiful story and excellent family read-aloud.

It’s a rare children’s novel that incorporates so many themes well: friendship, survival, self-knowledge, selflessness, teamwork, and the power of art. The Eyes and the Impossible is well deserving of the 2024 Newbery Medal.

Considerations:

Johannes believes that “the Sun is God and the clouds are her messengers.” A new acquaintance, who might be construed as a kindly atheist, gently questions this belief. Their conversation could be a springboard to discussion.

The animals don’t misuse God’s name but the humans do, profusely, during one highly stressful incident. All in lower case, whatever that means.

Overall Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Worldview/moral value: 4

Artistic/literary value: 5

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader

Review: Two picture books by Dave Eggers, both with political implications: Her Right Foot and What Can a Citizen Do?

Reviews: Two other stories told from the canine point of view: A Dog’s Way Home and Woof.

Reflection: Does the dog have to die (sometimes)? Betsy reflects on the necessity of Sad Dog Stories.

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