[H. F. Brinsmead writes] unusually varied stories of different aspects of Australian country and city life. Her first book, Pastures of the Blue Crane, dealt remarkably successfully and convincingly with the problems faced by a sixteen-year-old girl who … triumphs over a succession of setbacks, including the belated discovery that she is of part coloured blood. H. F. Brinsmead's books are all about adolescent girls and they are among the best examples of the newer type of children's book, which bridges the gap between the children's book proper and adult reading. Beat of the City dealt not altogether convincingly but courageously with under-privileged adolescents in Melbourne. Her later books are tending to become slightly 'fey', but she is the most promising of the new school of Australian writers. (pp. 166-67)