Mona's Eyes

De: Thomas Schlesser, Hildegarde Serle

Narrado por: Holly Lucas

New York Times Bestseller • Barnes & Noble 2025 Book of the Year • Boston Globe Best Book of the Year • National Indie Bestseller • Top Ten Indie Next Pick • Indigo Heather’s Pick

Ten-year-old Mona and her beloved grandfather have only fifty-two Wednesdays to visit fifty-two works of art and commit to memory “all that is beautiful in the world” before Mona loses her sight forever.

While the doctors can find no explanation for Mona’s brief episode of blindness, they agree that the threat of permanent vision loss cannot be ruled out. The girl’s grandfather, Henry, may not be able to stop his granddaughter from losing her sight, but he can fill the encroaching darkness with beauty. Every Wednesday for a year, the pair abscond together and visit a single masterpiece in one of Paris’s renowned museums. From Botticelli to Basquiat, Mona learns how each artist’s work shaped the world around them. In turn, the young girl’s world is changed forever by the power of their art. Under the kind and careful tutelage of her grandfather, Mona learns the true meaning of generosity, melancholy, love, loss, and revolution. Her perspective will never be the same—nor will the listener’s.

Mona’s Eyes is a heartfelt, enlightening journey across five centuries of Western art history. With the emotional impact of The Elegance of the Hedgehog and the listenability of The Little Paris Bookshop, Thomas Schlesser’s sensational debut novel is at once a moving book about the beauty of life and a deeply touching story about the special bond between a girl and her grandfather.

“Vibrant debut ... Schlesser seamlessly interweaves the art lessons with Mona’s story... Readers of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie's World will love this.”—Publishers Weekly

©2025 Thomas Schlesser (P)2025 Europa Editions

art description

Great story. realistic characters,plot. the Audible version was well done. historical and well written. enjoyable

Too long

The book starts strong, half way through I found it hard work. Too long & became dull, just wanted to finish but do admit to learning a fair bit about many artists. If you aren't an art lover this book is definitely not for you. Also felt the behavior of a 10 year old girl was not accurate I honestly felt perhaps the author didn't have much contact with 10 year old girls

Art plus Story

Really enjoyed this book and the way it blends a beautiful story of a young girl and many great masterpieces of art.

Every artist must read

Mona’s eyes is a mo’olelo about Ohana, the importance of Ike kupuna, kauna, learning through observation, but most importantly MANA. How it energizes everything. Duality of mana. Largely navigating existence connecting to the aina requires guidance transferring of Ike. Intentional creation. I loved this book

Growth

I’m not sure that I liked listening to the long descriptions of the paintings. I did enjoy hearing about the background and history of the paintings. I didn’t enjoy the touchy, subject matter, but it gave a different perspective of how people feel.