In a depression-era story based on an incident in the author's family history [Song of the Trees], a confrontation between a mercenary white man and a black man guarding his property is taut with drama…. The writing style is fairly brisk, verging on the poetic whenever Cassie speaks of her beloved trees; the characterization of the children is minimal, while that of the adults is stronger; the plot is nicely constructed for the length of the story.

Zena Sutherland, "New Titles for Children and Young People: 'Song of the Trees'," in Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (reprinted by permission of The University of Chicago Press; © 1975 by the University of Chicago), Vol. 29, No. 2, October, 1975, p. 35.