Butterworth uses various literary devices to make The Trouble with Jenny's Ear work as a novel. He writes on two levels to make the story richer in meaning; he makes the most unlikely character the heroine; and he develops a comical plot that is part real and part fantasy. His well-rounded characters mature over the course of the story, and through their activities he is able to widen the focus of the story to include the adult world outside Pearson's Corner.

The Trouble with Jenny's Ear is written on two levels—as a whimsical fantasy for youngsters, and as social commentary for adults. This dual construction makes for a richer book, as the two levels of the story play off each other. The fantasy is deepened by its tie-in to larger social issues, and the adult level is made more poignant by its nostalgia for...