The beautiful Hudson River Valley provides the backdrop for Paula Fox's book One Eyed-Cat.

This is the story of Ned Wallis, a pastor's son living in a small town fifteen miles from Tyler, New York. Ned is an only child and his mother, Martha, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Ned remembers a time when his lovely mother was lively and energetic. The family lives in an old farmhouse that was constructed in 1846. When the novel opens, it is the autumn of 1936 and the country is still in the throes of the Great Depression. Ned Wallis is a normal boy who enjoys exploring the woods and marveling at the seasons as they change. In a few days, Ned Wallis will turn eleven years old.

Although Ned has never been away from home, he still has a great sense of adventure. Ned collects stamps from other countries and loves to read National Geographic. Ned's Uncle Hilary is a world-traveler who sees to it that Ned receives an interesting souvenir from each country he has visited. In his collection, Ned has a bronze goat from Mexico and a piece of jade from China. Ned's closest friends are Janet Hoffman, Evelyn (Evie) Kimball and Billy Gaskell. As the story progresses, Ned and his friends undergo changes in their lives which are sometimes difficult to understand.

After school each day, Ned visits his neighbor, Mr. David Scully. Mr. Scully pays Ned a little money in exchange for help around the house. Mr. Scully lives in a small house by himself. He bakes his own bread and makes his own applesauce. All in all, Ned Wallis' life is simple and happy. Ned often visits his father's parishioners as part of his father's job.

Once, when Ned is with his father at an asylum, Ned sees someone watching him from an upstairs window. This feeling of being watched returns to Ned one evening just before his birthday.

As a surprise, Uncle Hilary gives Ned a Daisy air rifle for his birthday. Ned is thrilled with the gift, but Reverend James Wallis believes Ned is too young to handle a gun. After Ned's father puts the rifle in the attic, Ned decides that he cannot wait until he is fourteen to shoot the gun. He sneaks the rifle out into the woods and fires it at a figure in the shadows. Later, when Ned and Mr. Scully see a gray cat with one eye, Ned is convinced that he is responsible for the cat's injury.

Life and the seasons change and Ned comes to know himself and those around him in the most unexpected ways. Ned learns lessons about trust, friendship, family and telling the truth as he watches autumn turn to winter and then to spring in this delightful story of the simple life.