[1] Carol Memmott, reviewing for The Washington Post, says "Evison takes a battering ram to stereotypes about race and class" in Lawn Boy.

Memmott also comments on how the novel deals with racism in the United States, citing a section of the book to exemplify how Muñoz is "constantly reminded of what it means to be brown in America."

"[2] The book received a starred review by the Library Journal, which stated "Evison combines humor, honesty, and anger with an insightful commentary on class that's also an effective coming-of-age novel.

"[3] Writing for the School Library Journal, Mark Flowers called it a "readable and deeply thought-provoking" novel, and noted some of the themes explored in the book, such as "race, sexual identity, and the crushing weight of American capitalism."

"[4] Lawn Boy was one of American Library Association's Alex Awards recipients of 2019, "for the ten best adult books that appeal to teen audiences.

[8] Evison, responding to the allegations, explained that the scene in the book "involves an adult man recalling a sexual encounter he had with another fourth-grader when he was in fourth grade.