The book Summer of Lost Soles follows a youth named Ricky and his friends through their preteen 1960's summer vacation mishaps. It seems Ricky has a somewhat known reputation for not being able to keep from destroying, losing or misplacing every pair of shoes that are placed upon his feet. He has a devious scheming sister that lives to get him into trouble. His parents are at wits end to keep him in shoes. His friends aren't any help at all in helping Ricky preserve his footwear be it by their pranks or everyday antics where stuff ultimately happens.