The New York Times observed that "The story is a little too schematic, and Dean's writing a little uneven", but also said that "it largely avoids the sentimentality that mars so much writing about the old and infirm."
The critic's evaluation pointed out that the story has a somewhat predictable storyline, and Dean's writing lacks refinement, yet also acknowledged that the narrative successfully avoids the overly emotional tone often present in literature about elderly individuals.