Critical Reception: Initial reviews
As might be expected, given that it won the Newbery medal, the initial reviews of Trumpeter of Krakow were quite positive. Anne Carroll Moore (September 1928) first wrote a short blurb about the book, calling it “a thrilling, well-written adventure mystery story.” She later (December 1928) gave a full-page and very positive review, stating that the book was “[u]nusual first for the author’s ability to make of his characters living human beings, and, second, because of his complete saturation with the spirit and atmosphere of the city in which the story takes place.” She also commented on the presentation of the book: “Miss Pruszynska’s work should have had more adequate reproduction and the book itself a more distinguished cover and general format. It does not look the distinguished book it really is by virtue of its content.”
Other sources also reviewed the book favorably. The Saturday Review of Literature wrote, “Couched in a sober and informative style, which without elaboration presents the medieval background that every child loves, a story full of action centering around a magic crystal of Tarnov unrolls rapidly and without effort.” Horn Book observed, “Eric Kelly writes from a real knowledge of Poland, its history and traditions, as well as its picturesque beauty of landscape.” G. R. Noyes wrote in The Slavonic and Eastern European Review, “Boys and girls will be thrilled by the cleverly constructed story of mystery and adventure; older readers will be more interested in the background of the tale. Professor Kelly makes mediaeval Krakow live again; his few anachronisms will be noticed only by specialists.” This is the only one of the primary initial reviews that has any note of criticism, and even that is tempered by high praise.
Other sources also reviewed the book favorably. The Saturday Review of Literature wrote, “Couched in a sober and informative style, which without elaboration presents the medieval background that every child loves, a story full of action centering around a magic crystal of Tarnov unrolls rapidly and without effort.” Horn Book observed, “Eric Kelly writes from a real knowledge of Poland, its history and traditions, as well as its picturesque beauty of landscape.” G. R. Noyes wrote in The Slavonic and Eastern European Review, “Boys and girls will be thrilled by the cleverly constructed story of mystery and adventure; older readers will be more interested in the background of the tale. Professor Kelly makes mediaeval Krakow live again; his few anachronisms will be noticed only by specialists.” This is the only one of the primary initial reviews that has any note of criticism, and even that is tempered by high praise.