Johannes loves to run. He is faster than a rocket, a laser, even the speed of light. He also loves being free, the thought of one of those leash things he’s seen on other dogs, a terrible fate indeed.

His home is a vast park, where bison roam in their enclosure, seagulls soar above, racoons and squirrels scurry and ducks paddle on a boat pond. There is an archery course, many trails and open spaces where humans play and picnic, and forested areas too.

The animals work together, looking out for each other and learning about those who come to the park. Johannes acts as the ‘eyes’ of the park for his wise bison friend Freya, reporting back to her of what he or the other birds and animals have seen.

When a new type of human activity begins, the animals are intrigued. Some type of building is being formed, and outside the building, humans gather to look at strange rectangle shapes. Johannes is captivated too, but must be wary of the uniformed humans and those who look like trouble.

When something happens to make him appreciate his freedom even more, he worries about his bison friends behind their criss-cross of wires. Why don’t they want to feel freedom as he does?

It’s made clear by the author before the story begins that the animal characters are animals and not meant to be people in any way. They are just themselves.

This tale is told in the point of view of a dog named Johannes, but like no dog you’ve read before. He thinks like a dog, not a human – enjoying his own smell, running like the wind and eating anything he can get his teeth around – but not his animal companions.

He enjoys his responsibility of being the eyes of the park, and has the respect and friendship of many types of animal, as he reports to the wisest of them all – a bison named Freya.

Johannes exaggerates everything in a normal exhuberance of young dogs. He runs faster than any other, and numbers of things are often in their thousands as he explains things he’s seen.

I enjoyed his love of life, and his frustration with the ducks who humourously prove themselves to be as dim as he has portrayed throughout the story. Although a story about a dog (who does learn important things about himself), the language is often beautiful, as he enjoys the beauty of nature and his home.

The story veers one way and then another, capturing the reader as wisdom is learnt, shared and ideas and plans build within the tale.

I’ll never look at free animals the same way again. Are they observing us as we observe them, and are secret plans afoot? 

Author – Dave Eggers

Illustrator – Shawn Harris – (placing Johannes into works of art from the 1800’s)

Age – 8+

(2024, Andersen Press UK, Harper Collins, Dog, Animals, Seagulls, Raccoon, Humour, Action, Plans, Schemes, Escape, Goats, Friendship, Dim Ducks, Park, Art, Nature, Coyote, Newbery Medal 2024, Award Winning Author, Kindness, Daring, Danger, Running, Freedom)