Older readers will compare this well-written and -plotted story ["Scarface"] with Howard Pyle. It has humor and atmosphere and action that never falter. Even the minor characters are sharply drawn. It is "strong meat." There is no softening of the brutality and coarseness of the "men from the sea." To older boys and girls and to adults it will probably emerge as one of the outstanding adventure stories of the year. (p. 37)

Merritt P. Allen, in The Saturday Review of Literature (copyright, 1948, by The Saturday Review Co., Inc.; reprinted with permission), October 16, 1948.