In 1922 she was one runner-up for the inaugural Newbery Medal from the professional librarians, recognizing the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children".

[1] Members of the American Library Association were asked to nominate a book and The Windy Hill by Meigs was the last of six that received at least two votes[6] subsequently designated runners-up.

Runner-up works are now called Newbery Honor Books, so latter-day editions are authorized to display a silver seal on the cover.

Kirkus Reviews called Meigs "one of the best-loved authors of fiction for boys and girls", observed that Little Women is "virtually autobiographical", and recommended that the books be paired.

By a singular chance they have given me more work to do than ever before, quite regardless of the fact that in six months I shall be considered totally unfit ... You were so good to speak so kindly of Violent Men and Two Arrows.

The Macmillan Company had it for a long time before they published it, so, since I had promised a child's book as the very next thing, I wrote that last year and they came out rather embarrassingly close together.

You always give such nice detailed comments, not like the reviewers, or sometimes even the writer of the blurb on the cover who have visibly not got much farther than Chapter six or so ... Nina (signed in her hand)