Book Club Guide

The Eyes and the Impossible

by Dave Eggers · 2023 · Literary Fiction

Key themes

A dog who serves as the park's eyes — observation as both freedom and duty
The Bisons as ancient authority — what they know that others don't
Walls, freedom and what 'wild' actually means within a managed space

About this book

Johannes, a free dog living in a vast urban park, runs faster than any other animal and serves as the Eyes for the park's ancient Bison overlords — observing everything that happens within the park's walls. Eggers's Newbery Medal-winning novel is a fable about freedom, observation and the walls that separate the wild from the managed, narrated by a dog who has never known anything but the park.

Published in 2023, The Eyes and the Impossible won the Newbery Medal in 2024. Eggers is best known for adult work including A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and his McSweeney's publishing house; this was a notable departure into children's fiction.

Discussion questions

Johannes narrates as a dog with a specific role — the Eyes, who observes everything in the park for the Bison overlords. How does Eggers develop this canine perspective — and what does a dog's way of experiencing the world allow the novel to say?
The park is bounded by walls, and the question of what lies beyond them — and whether to go there — runs through the novel. What is Eggers saying about freedom, boundaries and the difference between a managed wild space and genuine wildness?
The Bisons are ancient, slow-moving authorities whose wisdom Johannes serves but doesn't always understand. How does Eggers develop this relationship — between youthful energy and ancient authority?
The novel is illustrated and formally playful in ways that distinguish it from conventional middle-grade fiction. How do these formal elements work alongside the text?
The Eyes and the Impossible won the Newbery Medal. What does it do that earns this recognition — and how does Eggers, known primarily for adult fiction and nonfiction, approach writing for younger readers?