The following version of the book was used to create this guide: Schweblin, Samanta. Little Eyes. Penguin Random House LLC, 2020.

In Samanta Schweblin's new third person novel, Little Eyes, traces a diverse network of characters' response to and relationship with a new technological gadget: the kentuki. While the novel is divided into 35 chapters, shifting between many international settings and perspectives, the following summary adopts a linear plot line, and traces the narratives of the more major characters.

Living alone in Lima, 64-year-old Emilia, is bothered by her son's absence. She feels his departure for Hong Kong was a deliberate way to separate himself from her. The only way he communicates with her is by sending her expensive technological gifts in the mail. Most of them she throws away or ignores. When she receives the kentuki tablet connection, however, she becomes curious. After logging in, Emilia is confused by what she sees on the screen. She is watching a young woman speak in German. She calls her son for clarification, soon learning that she is a dweller, operating a bunny-shaped kentuki in Erfurt, Germany. During her first hours in Erfurt, Emilia feels confused by the point of the game. The young girl eventually introduces herself as Eva. While Eva can talk to Emilia, hidden behind the bunny's camera eyes, Emilia cannot communicate with Eva. She longs to tell Eva about herself.

Meanwhile, a young woman named Alina moves to Oaxaca with her boyfriend Sven for his artist's residency. Having felt alone and depressed for some time, Alina thinks the change in location will do her good. After only a few days in Oaxaca, however, she realizes Sven is completely consumed by his artwork. She feels more alone than ever, and decides to buy a new kentuki pet for herself. She selects a crow, unsure what the point of the gadget really is. In her first days with the crow, Alina decides not to try communicating with it. She needs to establish boundaries, and if the crow is like a common house pet, she can allow it to merely keep her company. The pet, who she and Sven name Colonel Sanders, soon proves boring. Alina tries distracting herself from her continued despair and worthlessness by running and reading. She makes friends with a librarian named Carmen. Despite these distractions, Alina cannot help but notice the distance growing between her and Sven. Colonel Sanders is her only real companion.

In Antigua, a young boy named Marvin struggles to overcome his grief after his mother's death. His father becomes increasingly strict, and does not sense Marvin's emotional state. When Marvin begins performing poorly in school, instead of talking to his son, Marvin's father locks him in his office for three hours a day to study. Disinterested in investing in his academics, Marvin uses money from his deceased mother's account to purchase a kentuki connection. He is devastated when the kentuki connects and he discovers the dragon is trapped in an appliance shop window. Determined to touch the snow on the other side of the virtual glass, Marvin decides to attempt communicating with his keeper's wife, Lis.

Having been plagued by money issues for many years, Grigor sees an opportunity in the yet unregulated kentuki devices. Because users are disappointed that they cannot select their keepers they will be matched to, Grigor decides to buy up as many connections as possible. He explores the keepers' homes, and then markets them online. The plan works, and he begins making a decent amount of money.

On the other side of the world in Umbertide, a middle-aged single father lives alone with his son, Luca. Though he is annoyed by his son's kentuki, Mister, Enzo is determined to keep the gadget alive as a means of maintaining the peace with his ex-wife, Giulia. Soon, Enzo grows attached to Mister, and asks the kentuki if he and its dweller can talk on the phone. Mister grows evasive, angering Enzo. He just wanted to be friends. When news reports begin suggesting the darker implications of owning a kentuki, Giulia becomes convinced Mister is a pedophile, and insists Enzo end the connection. Though he does not want to believe her, Enzo soon realizes she is right, and smashes the device.

Emilia's relationship with Eva turns dark when her boyfriend, Klaus, gets involved. Eva and Klaus call Eva and torment her. Embarrassed and hurt, Emilia ends the connection.

Though Marvin's communication with Lis ultimately frees him from the shop window, his kentuki is soon put in danger. As he follows the kentuki's trip to see snow, Marvin feels temporarily freed. The adventure turns dark, and Marvin's kentuki dies.

Grigor's perfect plan sours when he realizes one of his kentukis has discovered a kidnapped girl on the other side of the world. Disinterested in assuming responsibility for her rescue, Grigor ends the connection for good, deciding to sell the other connections too.

Alina soon realizes something is wrong with her kentuki relationship as well. Though she tries using the gadget to get Sven's attention, she fails. No matter how much she tortures the pet, Sven ignores her. Disgusted and depressed, she decides to leave Oaxaca after Sven's exhibition. She is horrified when she arrives at the gallery to see that Sven has recorded her interactions with the kentuki and put them on display. She has behaved violently and lewdly. So embarrassed and trapped, she cannot move or speak.