The suspense [in "Hitchhike"] gets bogged down in sour didacticism. Adults are always either lecturing Pud or reproaching themselves. In addition to the warning that girls who hitchhike invite rape, there are stern words on pot-smoking, people who mistreat animals, and watching one's weight. Perhaps it's the strain of handling potentially explicit material in a manner suitable to the age group, but Holland gives the impression of being out of sympathy with youth. (pp. 34, 36)