The Eyes and the Impossible

By: Dave Eggers

Narrated by: Ethan Hawke

From the award-winning author of The Every comes an endearing 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.

A story about friendship, beauty, liberation, and running very, very fast, The Eyes & the Impossible will make listeners of all ages see the world around them in a wholly new way.

©2023 Dave Eggers (P)2023 Listening Library

Critic reviews

2024, John Newbery Medal: Winner

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

"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

A Joy of a Book

This put was a great different type of story through the eyes of animals. It is a wonderful story for all ages to read. I was sad that the story ended.

Waiting on the next book to continue the story.

On the Best-Ever shortlist!

I can hardly remember an audio book that I loved more than this one! The writing and story are superb, but Ethan Hawke’s narration really hits it out of the park. I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it — I’m normally not a big fan of animal narrators — but I was hooked from the first chapter. This story is witty, insightful, compelling, and laugh-out-loud funny in parts.

Great cast of characters

Really enjoyed Ethan Hawke as the narrator! This was a delightful fun read where each animal has something unique and interesting to offer in the telling of this story of exploration and self discovery

Fun whimsical story for the whole family.

The narrator Ethan Hawke is fabulous, he brought the story alive. How refreshing to listen to funny, entertaining and wholesome story.

Oh my god this book is amazing READ IT

The amount of details and plot twists are something I’ve never seen before that actually works amazingly smooth and definitely new that really affects the reader/audience, the voice acting is more spectacular than any book I’ve listened to (I’ve listened to many) and I was left speechless by the end of the book. I almost cried when the credits came on because I knew the book was finished, but I never wanted it to end. Oh my god… it’s the best book I’ve ever read/listened to and I HIGHLY recommend!!!! It’s for all ages, though some of the younger audiences might be a bit confused due to the more advanced vocabulary used in this book. Nevertheless, seriously that was the best book I’ve ever read, please make a sequel and get the same voice actor to voice it; !!SLIGHT SPOILERS!!
I just love the beautiful bond that Yohanus and Bertrund share and how it grows larger and more heart warming at the near-the end of the book, especially in the last chapter. (Don’t mind my spelling for both the names, I don’t know the way they’re both spelled 😭)

The humor

I loved all of it, especially all of the characters and the story is amazing

An outstanding story built for reading aloud!

The narrator was MOST EXCELLENT, and I am charmed by the story. The only thing that would have been better would be to have Mrs. Klaich, my 4th- and 6th-grade teacher, here to read it aloud after our noon recess, as she did other gems of stories such as A Wrinkle in Time and The Bridge to Terabithia. Like my new favorite coyote--mesmerized with pictures in squares--I am enthralled with these imagined wise animals in the park.

The narrator did a masterful job!

A perfect example of a beautiful story that will appeal to children but will be enjoyed by adults and reread by adults who read it first as children.
Ethan Hawke makes this audio book into a one person dramatic performance that is Oscar worthy. He is the characters and makes the narrative come alive with genuine emotion and excitement. He made me believe that talking, thinking animals living in community would sound just like that!
Thank you Mr Eggers for this classic and for not writing down to the children.
Congratulations on the Newberry-well deserved!

Excellent Narration

Excellent narration for this Newbery winner! Children will fall in love with the characters. It's a story to be shared.

Wild and Wonderful.

This was beyond fabulous. Ethan Hawke perfectly embodied the free dog Johannes. I absolutely loved the tale and I am anxious to purchase a copy for a young reader in my life. Dave Eggers' is a genius. "God is the sun, clouds are her messengers and rain is only rain", is a fine philosophy.