The plot of Henry Reed, Inc. hinges on the consequences of an active youth and on the existence of troublesome people in the world. Because these realities of life cannot be avoided, Robertson shows how they can be dealt with by ordinary reasonable folk. This sensitivity on the part of the author makes Henry Reed, Inc. a socially positive book. It suggests facing and solving problems instead of ignoring them, and it provides many examples.

It is true that Henry and Midge's activities result in a traffic jam, havoc at a garden club meeting, a power failure in Grover's Corner, and even a neighbor's pet taking an unplanned jaunt into the blue yonder. But these mishaps occur while the youngsters work on projects that are harmless in themselves, such as moving donated equipment or conducting a semiscientific experiment. Not only can most people, especially young people...