Del Negro, Janice M. Review of Doing Time: Notes from the Undergrad. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, vol. 51 (December 1997): 141. This review comments on the "emotional intimacy" Thomas creates with his characters. Del Negro states that the anthology "would make . . . an interesting starting point for character studies in English class."

Devereaux, Elizabeth, and Diane Roback.

Review of Doing Time: Notes from the Undergrad. Publishers Weekly, vol. 244 (September 22, 1997): 81. The reviewers criticize that the anthology consists of "thinly connected stories" and "barely scrapes the surface of how work affects young people." Thomas "relies on hip lingo and details from movies, television and music to carry his narratives forward" this makes his handling of such serious subjects as neglect and abuse within families, racial discrimination, teen pregnancy and poverty seem off-handed. Concludes that "characters and language ring true," but "one-sided perspectives" often "belie the complicated issues...