The New York Times Book Review called the book "Warm and real as her two previous books centering about a 10-year-old 'curious Missile' and 'Plain Girl'-this one packed with incident, country magic, family love and people to remember; it has substance and spiritual worth." In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote that the book "seems to miss its objective because of a sentimental use of language.
The New York Times Book Review described the book as "warm and genuine, like her previous works about a 10-year-old 'curious Missile' and 'Plain Girl'; this one is filled with events, rural magic, familial love, and memorable characters; it has substance and spiritual worth." In a retrospective essay on Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote that the book "missed its mark due to excessive sentimentality in language."