Edgar Allan is a success for many reasons, and one of them is that it describes an adult failure, a rare occurrence in children's books…. Michael's credible narrative is touching in its harsh examination of his father's Christianity and its criticism of [his sister]. Edgar Allan himself, sweet, bright, mute in his own defense, is innocent of any fault save his skin color, but his symbolic presence provides a test which the family has failed. Such irony, perhaps, will not touch children at first, but this book about a family on trial is one to save and to share and perhaps to discuss; certainly its reflection of reality will be noted and praised by the young people who read it.