The New York Times, in the aforementioned 1917 review, described the book's plot and provided comment:[1] The story itself, a long novelette, is scened in a Missouri town and tells how a lad born to poverty and shiftlessness, by the help of a fine-souled and high-minded man and woman, grew into a noble and useful manhood and helped to regenerate his town.

There is evident a rather striking knowledge of the conditions of life and the peculiarities of character in a Missouri town, the dialect is true, and the picture has, in general, many features that will seem familiar to those who know their "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn."

A country paper fills an important place in the tale, and there is constant proof of familiarity with the life and work of the editor of such a sheet.

The humor impresses as a feeble attempt at imitation and, while there is now and then a strong sure touch of pathos or a swift and true revelation of human nature, the "sob stuff" that oozes through many of the scenes, and the overdrawn emotions are too much for credulity.

The Oakland Tribune commented:[7] "Jap Herron," without Mark Twain's name, would find ready sale as an interesting story in which humor and pathos are mingled.