[A Sapphire for September is the] best Brinsmead yet—it will be interesting a few decades hence to know how many New Australians were inspired by reading her books in the '60s and '70s, though her main message is not "Come to Australia" but "Come to life". Her Binny Flambeau is lively enough, though somewhat rootless and aimless until dreamer and student Adam sweeps her into a group of rock-hounds in Sydney. She cannot understand Adam but adores him with a puppy-love whose waxing and waning is neatly conveyed as the group, a wildly assorted bunch, converges on a deserted township…. Full of young people and their talk, but with a memorable ballast of older people, like old Charley Light the gem-specker who sees that Binny might find gems but will never keep them and tells her to remember the mountain agate: "It's got a strong kind of beauty. Not much fire, but strong. And it's everywhere". Mrs. Brinsmead makes the reader feel people like that are everywhere, too. (pp. 385-86)