Estes skillfully utilizes the small-town backdrop of Cranbury and its surrounding countryside as the setting for Ginger Pye. Rachel and Jerry explore nearby fields and farms, swim in the reservoir, pick berries by the train station, take trips to the large scenic rocks that encircle the town, sled down snow-covered hills during winter, and explore the unfinished houses being built in the town. The natural environment and changing seasons provide a framework for the story, symbolizing that good times will follow bad, and happiness will succeed sorrow. Simple descriptive passages capture the children's affection for their town and its natural beauty.

The book's time period is less clearly defined. Small details, such as the use of gas lamps and trolleys, the infrequent presence of automobiles, and women being unable to serve on juries, suggest the story is set in the past, likely the late 1910s. However, the setting does not feel outdated because the characters and situations in Ginger Pye are largely universal to childhood experiences. The subtle clues scattered by the author throughout the book are more likely to intrigue than confuse, and some readers might be inspired to do a bit of detective work to pinpoint the time period more accurately.

Ginger Pye is narrated from a third-person perspective with varying viewpoints. The story primarily highlights Rachel's perspective. In a particularly amusing section, the viewpoint shifts to Ginger Pye himself. The author frequently uses humor, especially through Rachel's interest in the nuances of word sounds and meanings—such as how "vilyun" sounds more "vilyunous" than "villain"—or through dialogues, notably those with Uncle Benny. The author adeptly captures the natural flow of children's speech and their fascination with wordplay. Rachel and Jerry are engaged in an ongoing story about the adventures of Martin Boombernickles, a character who takes on different disguises. When Mrs. Pye inquires about the origin of the name "Boombernickles," Rachel is unsure, but readers grasp the importance of personal naming.

Estes skillfully portrays the significance of imagination and a sense of wonder. Rachel, in particular, enjoys pondering "what ifs," and the book includes numerous allusions to fairy tales and familiar stories such as "The Snow Queen," "The Tinder Box," and Tom Sawyer, highlighting an essential childhood link between reality and fantasy.

Estes' works are often episodic rather than tightly structured. Some critics argue that Ginger Pye's frequent use of flashbacks, anecdotes, and introspective moments disrupts the narrative flow, potentially causing younger readers to lose track of the story. Conversely, these techniques might help readers connect more deeply with the characters whose viewpoints are explored. Another point of critique is the somewhat melodramatic ending of the book. The explanation for Ginger Pye's disappearance might not seem plausible to readers: Ginger's skills have led to his abduction for training in a vaudeville act. While the resolution of the mystery might feel contrived, the emotions evoked by Ginger's reunion with his family could offset any perceived artificiality.

Ginger Pye doesn't include any explicit violence, yet the author understands her young audience well enough to explore aspects of life that typically captivate children. For instance, Gracie the Cat has a tendency to tear open the stomachs of her prey if the Pyes do not express enough enthusiasm over her catches. The children are unsettled by the tale of Bit-Nose Ned, who had his nose bitten off by a dog and required surgical reattachment. While these stories are not described in graphic detail, Estes clearly focuses on portraying a realistic world for children rather than sanitizing the narrative. At the book's conclusion, Ginger's ordeal at the hands of his kidnappers...