The Eyes, the Fire, & the Avalanche Kingdom

Eyes and the Impossible Series

Author: Dave Eggers

Illustrator: Shawn Harris

Book 2 in the Eyes and the Impossible series

Pages: 368

Published: 2026

Age: 8+

Half-dog, half-coyote, all hero Johannes ventures into the wild, where new friends and new adventure await.

Johannes has always lived in an urban park by the sea. It's been a good life, a safe life. Yet when a goat named Helene invites Johannes and his friend, a seagull named Bertrand, to join her on an outbound ship (full of goats; long story), he can't resist the pull of the unknown.The journey brings them to a strange wilderness teeming with wolves, eagles, lynx, and bears--all eager to make a meal of the new arrivals. Meanwhile, the prey have retreated deep within the woods. But they wield a powerful weapon that could challenge the natural order, and it sparks a burning question: Is the natural order the right order? Can it be upended by the most vulnerable?

With singular humor, a thrilling pace, and wildly lyrical writing, Dave Eggers's new novel about the exuberant Johannes will captivate readers of all ages.

About the Eyes and the Impossible Series

Books in series order

  1. 1.The Eyes and the Impossible(2023)
  2. 2.The Eyes, the Fire, & the Avalanche Kingdom(2026)

Reading age: 9+ years

This series should be read in order.

This series follows the adventures of Johannes, a lightning-fast “free dog” whose job is to be the Eyes in an oceanside city park—watching everything and reporting to three wise bison elders. With help from his sharp (and funny) animal friends, Johannes tries to keep the park’s delicate balance intact—until big questions about freedom, rules, and belonging crash into his world.

The first book in the series was awarded the Newbery Medal and is lushly illustrated by Caldecott honoree Shawn Harris. Johannes' adventures continue in The Eyes, the Fire, & the Avalanche Kingdom, when a tempting invitation pulls the dog far beyond his familiar park.

Teachers are already using the first book for read-alouds and novel studies, making it a strong fit for classrooms and book clubs.