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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSJohannes is a proud, very fast free dog who lives in the hollow of an old dead tree in a huge, windy park by the sea, and he tells his own story. Three old Bison, who live in a fenced pen and keep the park in balance, have made him their Eyes. Every day he runs the whole park and reports everything to the Bison after sunset, with help from his best friend Bertrand, a big seagull, plus a shy one-eyed squirrel, a clumsy pelican, and a chubby raccoon. Then paintings start showing up near a new building in the park, and Johannes, who calls them "rectangles," gets so lost in staring at them that a thief manages to clip a leash on him. After his friends rescue him, Johannes knows what it feels like to be kept, and he decides the Bison should be free too. While he plans, he saves a toddler who falls into a pond, becomes famous as a hero dog, and has to go out in disguise in a bright pink dog sweater.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Eyes and the Impossible
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Eyes and the Impossible. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book do a gull and a heavy pelican thump onto a getaway van's windshield and hood?
✓ Answer
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
With Johannes trapped in the thieves' van, Bertrand's wings cover the windshield and block the driver's view, and Yolanda thumps onto the hood and spreads her huge wings. Soon so many birds cover every window that even Johannes is a little unnerved.
- First half
In what book does a sleepy raccoon grumble that everyone's always got "an emergency requiring opposable thumbs"?
✓ Answer
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Angus is a nocturnal raccoon, so he is not happy to be woken halfway through his rest to help a dog stuck inside a sweater. Still, raccoons love showing off their clever hands, and he gets Johannes's paws, head and tail through.
- First half
In what book does a museum window display a painting of a chicken-headed man riding a giant chicken?
✓ Answer
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
At the new museum's opening, Johannes, in his pink disguise, finds two big pictures hanging in the front window. The one on the left has an upside-down boulder, a hundred or so people, roads, and a man with a chicken's head riding a giant chicken.
- Second half
In what book does a shy squirrel show up for a meeting and politely offer to leave?
✓ Answer
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Sonja acts as if she has interrupted a private gathering whenever she arrives at the rounded rock. Johannes reminds her that she is a valuable member of the team, and she begins to smile.
- Second half
In what book does a goat call herself a monster because of the crisscrossed lines on her horns?
✓ Answer
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Helene believes her horns are horrible because their cross-lines are not parallel, which matters a great deal to goats. Johannes can barely see the lines and thinks she is just the right amount of different.
- Near the end
In what book is a grumpy bison's only encouragement for a new leader "there really wasn't anyone else"?
✓ Answer
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Freya asks Johannes to become the Keeper of the Equilibrium when the Bison are gone, and Meredith says he will do well. When Meredith nudges Samuel to offer some encouragement, he mutters this line.
