Socks

Socks by Beverly Cleary (1973) is a children’s novel about a cat’s journey through new situations and relationships as he works to find where he belongs among his human family. Socks received the William Allen White Award and the Golden Archer Award from the University of Wisconsin, and the book is characteristic of Cleary’s lighthearted stories about humans and animals learning to get along. Socks explores themes of Overcoming Struggles in Changing Relationships to Form Lasting Bonds, Adapting to New Situations Through Acceptance, Not Resistance, and The Search for Belonging Amid Shifting Familial Dynamics. Over 40 years of writing, Beverly Cleary (1916-2021) penned over 40 books for young readers, for which she received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the Newbery Medal, and other awards from various state library associations and readers’ choice contests. Cleary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Library Science degree from the University of Washington. After she obtained her second degree, her work as a children’s librarian inspired her to write tales for young readers, which she eventually did full-time. 

This guide follows the 2015 Harper Collins ePub edition.

Plot Summary

Socks follows the titular protagonist, a cat, on his journey to a new home and the challenges he finds there. As the story opens, Socks, along with his brothers and sisters, is part of a kitten sale because the parents of his current owner say their family can’t keep the kittens. Socks is the girl’s favorite, and she works hard to ensure he goes to a good home. She finally allows the Brickers to buy him, knowing they will treat Socks well. The young couple is thrilled to have a new pet and welcomes Socks into their family.

For weeks, Socks is the center of attention in his new home, where he spends time napping, eating, and ensuring his owners pay attention to him. Soon, though, Socks starts to notice Marilyn Bricker’s lap is shrinking and that the couple is treating him differently. When they suddenly disappear from the house for a few days, Socks is despondent, with no one to love him. When they return, Socks is relieved, but the realization that the Brickers brought home a new pet quickly tempers his relief.

Watching the Brickers fuss over the pet and feed it from a bottle, Socks realizes this is not a pet but a human child named Charles William. While Socks still isn’t happy, he accepts the baby’s presence, believing he is still the center of the household. Within days, it becomes clear this is not the case as the Brickers pay more attention to Charles William and have many visitors who want to see the baby. During one of these visits, Charles William’s aunt calls attention to how much weight Socks has gained. After this, the Brickers stop giving Socks leftover baby formula and only feed Socks half of what he’s used to. Indignant about the change, Socks tries to steal food and beg from the neighbors, which doesn’t work.

One night, the Brickers go out on a date, and a sitter comes to watch Charles William. The sitter takes an immediate liking to Socks, who feels loved for the first time since Charles William joined the family. A few weeks later, Marilyn’s mother-in-law visits and continuously hints that it is dangerous to have a cat around a baby. Between the lack of attention and the attitude from the mother-in-law, Socks snaps and bites Marilyn’s ankle to show his displeasure.

The Brickers are stunned and kick Socks out of the house. Feeling even more unloved, Socks spends his days soaking up any attention he can find while avoiding the tomcat who lives next door. When Socks finds the tomcat eating his food one morning, Socks challenges the tomcat to a fight, and he’s injured. Socks meows at the Brickers’ back door for help. The Brickers are horrified and bring Socks inside, deciding they never should have kicked him out. Charles William calls Socks “ticky,” which the Brickers realize means “kitty,” and Socks feels content because he knows the family cares about him.

In the following weeks, Socks and Charles William form a tentative bond. One day while Socks is in Charles William’s room, the baby nudges his crib across the room to block the door. The baby starts ripping foam out of his crib bumper and tossing it to Socks. With Marilyn unable to get into the room, the baby and cat continue to play and make a mess until both are worn out. Socks curls up in Charles William’s crib as Marilyn climbs through the window. At first, she’s nervous that Socks is so close to the baby, but she quickly realizes Charles William is in no danger and permits Socks to stay.