What with the twisting, decidedly miraculous course of the plot, the sentimentality, weak dialogue, a rather bromidic style, and one distressing misquotation of Mr. Browning, you pretty well lose sight of the one strong point of [Plum Bun], aside from the interest inherent in the problem itself. This is the comparison of the white and negro races, which Miss Fauset accomplishes deftly and with examples, and from which you do get a sense of [warm] vitality….

"The New Books: 'Plum Bun'," in The Saturday Review of Literature (copyright © 1929 by Saturday Review; all rights reserved; reprinted by permission), Vol. V, No. 37, April 6, 1929, p. 866.