Novels of any real significance are rare these days. The role of the artist, or the poet, or the novelist as a social commentator doesn't seem to be appreciated. The most effective and the most trenchant comment has often been the least "acceptable" to the "establishment". "Sons" can be an important exception to this observation since it is a powerful novel that says something about the chronic problems that retard the pursuit of the American Dream. Evan Hunter, who has previously enlightened darkened corners of our society in such novels as "The Blackboard Jungle," has now put together an outstanding new work that examines some of our problems as they have appeared to three generations of an American family. (pp. 185-86)

What we actually have in "Sons" is a panorama of major events of three decades of the 20th century as seen through the eyes of the young...