What do you think?
Rate this book
The Trouble with Jenny's Ear
By the author of The Enormous Egg, "another hilarious tale tells of two boys' explosive initiation into the electronic age--and of the sudden manifestation of extrasensory perception in their younger sister."--Horn Book. Black-and-white illustrations.
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Butterworth
8 books9 followersButterworth was born in Hartford, Connecticut and spent much of his life as a teacher, teaching at Kent School in Kent, Connecticut from 1937 to 1947 and Junior School in West Hartford, Connecticut from 1947 to 1949. Additionally, beginning in 1947, he taught English at Hartford College for Women in Hartford, Connecticut until the late 1980s.
Butterworth was an author of many children's books, most of which took place in the New England area of the United States in which he was born and raised.
His most popular book was The Enormous Egg, the fanciful story of farmboy Nate Twitchell who raises a dinosaur (a Triceratops named "Uncle Beazley") that hatches from a hen's egg in 1950s New England.
Butterworth died of cancer in West Hartford, aged 75.
Butterworth was an author of many children's books, most of which took place in the New England area of the United States in which he was born and raised.
His most popular book was The Enormous Egg, the fanciful story of farmboy Nate Twitchell who raises a dinosaur (a Triceratops named "Uncle Beazley") that hatches from a hen's egg in 1950s New England.
Butterworth died of cancer in West Hartford, aged 75.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 22, 2019
I read and have the 1960 hardback tenth printing edition. I adored this book as a kid. I was intrigued by the idea of a little girl having the power of being able to hear others’ thoughts and how she’s able to use that ability to “know” so much beyond her years on a quiz show. Won’t give more than that away, but it’s great fun.
-----
I reread this book yet again in April 2019 prior to having to give up my copy of the book. I doubt that I’ll get a chance to read it again. My current public library has only one copy and it’s for library use only. It’s out of print and I’m sure many libraries no longer have it at all. I think my last reread was since I joined Goodreads twelve years ago but I think it’s been some years back.
This book is great fun! It’s a really good-humored book.
It’s hilarious. The father’s sense of humor is particularly wonderful. Very amusing!
I love how the parents go along with the deception. I probably got a huge kick out of that when I was a child. This was one of my favorite books when I was in elementary school.
I love the spelling bee and the quiz show and the showing of the outdoors & outdoor activities. I love the characters and their relationships. I enjoyed some of the humorous droll names a few of the characters have. I’d forgotten that Jenny age 6 didn’t have as big a role as I’d thought and that it is her brothers Joe 12 and Stanley 10 that are also main characters, though everybody has a role/place in the story.
There aren’t too many illustrations but the black ink ones that appear I found charming.
It’s definitely a tale of its time and is not politically correct at all (sexism, fur, etc. etc. etc.) and it’s now historical fiction, but I think it deserves to be in print.
I’m always interested to see what literature I was exposed to when young and impressionable. Even though there are plenty of anachronisms I still thoroughly enjoy this period piece book.
-----
I reread this book yet again in April 2019 prior to having to give up my copy of the book. I doubt that I’ll get a chance to read it again. My current public library has only one copy and it’s for library use only. It’s out of print and I’m sure many libraries no longer have it at all. I think my last reread was since I joined Goodreads twelve years ago but I think it’s been some years back.
This book is great fun! It’s a really good-humored book.
It’s hilarious. The father’s sense of humor is particularly wonderful. Very amusing!
I love how the parents go along with the deception. I probably got a huge kick out of that when I was a child. This was one of my favorite books when I was in elementary school.
I love the spelling bee and the quiz show and the showing of the outdoors & outdoor activities. I love the characters and their relationships. I enjoyed some of the humorous droll names a few of the characters have. I’d forgotten that Jenny age 6 didn’t have as big a role as I’d thought and that it is her brothers Joe 12 and Stanley 10 that are also main characters, though everybody has a role/place in the story.
There aren’t too many illustrations but the black ink ones that appear I found charming.
It’s definitely a tale of its time and is not politically correct at all (sexism, fur, etc. etc. etc.) and it’s now historical fiction, but I think it deserves to be in print.
I’m always interested to see what literature I was exposed to when young and impressionable. Even though there are plenty of anachronisms I still thoroughly enjoy this period piece book.
May 16, 2019
A really funny and entertaining story and an interesting look into a time period when technology was emerging and being used by people for uses they hadn't thought about before.
Jenny lives with her mum, dad and two brothers. When a housing estate is planned opposite their house that means Jenny's beloved brook will be concreted over Jenny and her brothers come up with some ingenious ways to stop this from happening.
The plot revolves around a special talent Jenny discovers and their attempts to save the brook and the area they love to play in. There are some very amusing scenes, we loved the spelling bee, the scenes where technology was brought into the class room were hilarious, we loved the way the children made more work for themselves by thinking of a cunning plan to avoid a lesson.
Lovely line illustrations really help set the scene for this era, a really enjoyable read.
Read on openlibrary.
Jenny lives with her mum, dad and two brothers. When a housing estate is planned opposite their house that means Jenny's beloved brook will be concreted over Jenny and her brothers come up with some ingenious ways to stop this from happening.
The plot revolves around a special talent Jenny discovers and their attempts to save the brook and the area they love to play in. There are some very amusing scenes, we loved the spelling bee, the scenes where technology was brought into the class room were hilarious, we loved the way the children made more work for themselves by thinking of a cunning plan to avoid a lesson.
Lovely line illustrations really help set the scene for this era, a really enjoyable read.
Read on openlibrary.
January 17, 2025
This is one of my favorite middle-elementary chapter books and has been for nearly 30 years. I had it with me on my wedding day, in case of waiting around. It's slightly more advanced reading than the Boxcar Children, if only because someone will need to explain about crystal sets and 1950s surveillance equipment.
It improves on every reading. Mr. Butterworth employs a dry sense of humor that still works for readers who don't yet have an understanding of irony, and he very adeptly juggles a lot of moving parts--Joe and Stanley's electronics obsession, Teddy Watson's spirit of adventure, the sale of the hill and creek, the issue with Jenny's ear, Uncle Harold and Miss Romaine.... He even gives an early preview of the pitfalls of 2020 remote schooling and of the surveillance state. It sounds like too much, but he draws all of it together while maintaining believability. He adds even more Dickensian flair via the excellent character naming (Miss Svelt and Mr. Random Groper are the highlights).
The original illustrations are also delightful, and I believe the currently available edition has them, despite the new cover design.
It improves on every reading. Mr. Butterworth employs a dry sense of humor that still works for readers who don't yet have an understanding of irony, and he very adeptly juggles a lot of moving parts--Joe and Stanley's electronics obsession, Teddy Watson's spirit of adventure, the sale of the hill and creek, the issue with Jenny's ear, Uncle Harold and Miss Romaine.... He even gives an early preview of the pitfalls of 2020 remote schooling and of the surveillance state. It sounds like too much, but he draws all of it together while maintaining believability. He adds even more Dickensian flair via the excellent character naming (Miss Svelt and Mr. Random Groper are the highlights).
The original illustrations are also delightful, and I believe the currently available edition has them, despite the new cover design.
October 12, 2017
Although it is lengthy, this is an easy engaging read that brings in several ideas of the time, including electronics and television quiz shows. It is interesting to consider how technology has changed in the intervening decades. As with The Enormous Egg, we eventually get federal involvement on a grand scale.
December 1, 2009
Above all else, this book is hilarious. Every page has some pithy line that made me snort or giggle. I especially adore Mr. Pearson, who gives us gems like this (the context is the kids needing to come up with 50K):
"Why, that's splendid," Mr. Pearson said. "Now we have ten dollars, a dictionary and a giant-size package of cookies. We're really making progress toward that fifty thousand, and we have two whole months to go. I don't see how we can miss."
Beyond the sardonic hilarity, it's also a fascinating snapshot of the time when the US was falling head over heels in love with technology at any cost.
A lovely book. Highly recommended. Thanks, Wendy.
"Why, that's splendid," Mr. Pearson said. "Now we have ten dollars, a dictionary and a giant-size package of cookies. We're really making progress toward that fifty thousand, and we have two whole months to go. I don't see how we can miss."
Beyond the sardonic hilarity, it's also a fascinating snapshot of the time when the US was falling head over heels in love with technology at any cost.
A lovely book. Highly recommended. Thanks, Wendy.
December 29, 2017
Jenny's older brothers are very interested in telecommunications. Their uncle, who shares their fascination, regularly brings them radios, speakers, microphones, television screens, and other equipment so that they can experiment with new technology and maybe even come up with ways to make their lives easier. As her brothers find ways to revolutionize everything from schoolwork to waking the household up in the morning, Jenny finds that she has developed an even more efficient way to receive messages from those around her. Jenny's ear is able to hear what people are thinking. When her brothers learn of this exciting new ability, they immediately look for ways to use it to make money, taking their sister to the local spelling bee, and later, to nationally televised quiz shows, where she can't be beat - at least, not until her unique ability begins to fade away.
As he did in The Enormous Egg, here Oliver Butterworth tells a fantastical story that almost feels plausible. In many fantasy novels, characters who develop strange abilities panic about them and go to great lengths to keep them a secret. In this book, though, Jenny's family learns of her newfound sensitive hearing and begin to fold this new information into their lives as though it is no big deal. They do keep it a secret from the quiz show hosts and such, at least at first, but the book is less about hiding a magic power and more about exploring the ethical and practical implications of being able to spy on the thoughts of others without even really trying.
The Trouble with Jenny's Ear is a light, humorous story which explores serious subjects in a whimsical way. The focus on quiz shows and the novelty of television and other electronics decidedly dates the book to the '50s or '60s, but that just makes it more charming and fun to read. This would be a fun family read-aloud, even for kids as young as 5 or 6, and a good independent read for ages 8 and up.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
As he did in The Enormous Egg, here Oliver Butterworth tells a fantastical story that almost feels plausible. In many fantasy novels, characters who develop strange abilities panic about them and go to great lengths to keep them a secret. In this book, though, Jenny's family learns of her newfound sensitive hearing and begin to fold this new information into their lives as though it is no big deal. They do keep it a secret from the quiz show hosts and such, at least at first, but the book is less about hiding a magic power and more about exploring the ethical and practical implications of being able to spy on the thoughts of others without even really trying.
The Trouble with Jenny's Ear is a light, humorous story which explores serious subjects in a whimsical way. The focus on quiz shows and the novelty of television and other electronics decidedly dates the book to the '50s or '60s, but that just makes it more charming and fun to read. This would be a fun family read-aloud, even for kids as young as 5 or 6, and a good independent read for ages 8 and up.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
August 28, 2011
One of my favorite books I checked out of the elementary school library, this book kind of disappeared off all my radar screens over the years. As far as I can tell it is no longer in print. Amazon normally has it in used books. Oliver Butterworth also wrote The Enormous Egg, another really good chapter book.
I haven't seen this book in at least 45 years, but as I remember, Jenny's brothers were doing some kind of electronic experiments and it had an incredible effect on Jenny's ear. Jenny was captivating to me because she could hear what people were thinking, something that every fourth grader (okay, every living person) would love to be able to do...for awhile. Being able to hear thoughts is an interesting experience for Jenny in church and during her entrance in a spelling bee. Seems like her brothers really took advantage of the situation. You know, I'm going to order that book I saw on Amazon for $4.65 right now! I want to remember the rest of the story. It has to be good because it has been on my mind since fourth grade. I'll let you know if it held up over the years.
I haven't seen this book in at least 45 years, but as I remember, Jenny's brothers were doing some kind of electronic experiments and it had an incredible effect on Jenny's ear. Jenny was captivating to me because she could hear what people were thinking, something that every fourth grader (okay, every living person) would love to be able to do...for awhile. Being able to hear thoughts is an interesting experience for Jenny in church and during her entrance in a spelling bee. Seems like her brothers really took advantage of the situation. You know, I'm going to order that book I saw on Amazon for $4.65 right now! I want to remember the rest of the story. It has to be good because it has been on my mind since fourth grade. I'll let you know if it held up over the years.
April 8, 2008
Another wonderful book I found in my elementary school library! I think this book reflects the adult world's fascination with game shows in the 60s but what makes this book fun for readers is the eager way Jenny's brothers try to use her newfound skill to make money while she becomes more and more perturbed by her uncanny ability to read people's thoughts.
January 2, 2021
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I checked it out so many times. If i were to go back to my elementary school library, i could go to the exact shelf where this book used to live. But alas, like so many stories of its era, it has not aged well. There were more than a few points in the story when i cringed at the level of misogyny baked into 1960s culture. I mean, there’s actually a character named Mr. Random Groper and it’s not tongue in cheek.
It was nice to hold this book in my hands again, but i won’t be recommending it to any young readers, I’m afraid.
It was nice to hold this book in my hands again, but i won’t be recommending it to any young readers, I’m afraid.
September 25, 2007
A delightful book that is equally good as a period piece and as a timeless kids' story. Raises questions about the role of technology in our lives; also touches on the game show scandals of the 1950s, development of rural areas, and what it's like to be a child prodigy. The spelling bee scene is priceless.
September 26, 2024
Definitely has some dated content, but really is quite a fun story!
May 2, 2023
This was one of my favorite books when I was a girl. I remember how excited I was to find a book with my name in it at the library in the discard pile. I was even more excited when it was a really good book.
Reading it again 40 something years later was interesting. In my recollection the book centered around the quiz show, and I thought Jennie lost her ability at that time in the book. But that happened only halfway through so I was in for a surprise ending this time around.
Another thing I found interesting was that although this book was written in 1960 (and before I was born) it did not seem very dated to me. In fact, the way the brothers utilized all the electronic equipment was very predictive of what would happen in the future.
Reading it again 40 something years later was interesting. In my recollection the book centered around the quiz show, and I thought Jennie lost her ability at that time in the book. But that happened only halfway through so I was in for a surprise ending this time around.
Another thing I found interesting was that although this book was written in 1960 (and before I was born) it did not seem very dated to me. In fact, the way the brothers utilized all the electronic equipment was very predictive of what would happen in the future.
September 30, 2020
Such a great story. Jenny has an ear that allows her to hear other’s thoughts. She comes to terms with this by returning her quiz show earnings. She earned this all for an altruistic cause- sort of. Keep the sledding hill near the house. Chapter book and simply good family values. Just a great story. I remembered reading this when I was younger. A few illustrations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2022
This book was published in 196, which means my mother could have read it when she was a little girl.
I read it first maybe in 3rd grade, and really liked it. I remember being delighted at the concept of hearing people's thoughts, and I was delighted to read it again.
It still has its moments, it's a fun book.
I read it first maybe in 3rd grade, and really liked it. I remember being delighted at the concept of hearing people's thoughts, and I was delighted to read it again.
It still has its moments, it's a fun book.
November 24, 2018
My librarian recommended this to me in elementary school - and I remembered liking it so I searched it out to read to my boys (5 & 12). I liked it again in the rereading and would recommend it as a read aloud book, especially for families with siblings.
August 3, 2018
This was a book I read in grade school and love it. I wanted to reminisce and read it again. Glad I did.
November 23, 2019
Dated, but an enjoyable read.
March 25, 2024
A sweet book set (and written) in a simpler time, following the event of the 6 year old youngest child's discovery of an unusual power.
April 21, 2024
I am delighted to find a children’s book that discusses building developers, corrupt FBI, and best of all INCOME TAXES!
May 25, 2024
Just as delightful as I remember!
October 3, 2025
Read this when I was much older but the idea of being able to read people’s thoughts seemed quite appealing at the time.
February 8, 2026
My sixth grade teacher read this out loud to us about 60 years ago and I just read it again and found it just as delightful as I remembered..
July 17, 2023
I don’t know if I should have given this 4 stars… it was extremely odd. Maybe I should change it to 3.
June 12, 2009
Written in a simple, folksy way reminiscent of _Homer Price_ novels, this is a nice tale about a young girl who surprisingly gains the ability to read people's thoughts. Her older brothers are electronic wizards, and soon become her managers as they attempt to earn money for some land through the use of their sister's gift. Don't let a contemporary attitude about this type of avarice scare you away; written in the 50's, Butterworth's story features parents, siblings, and neighbors who care about the well-being of their children.
April 11, 2012
Written in 1960, another kid's book, about the introduction of the television and other electronics such as microphones, that enable two brothers to spy on family members and others and play tricks on people - and their sister Jenny, who develops the ability to read people's minds. A great idea, but not so smoothly written.
September 20, 2012
This was a book that I read when I was very young and remember reading tonight. I am going to buy for my boys! I remember being so young and sneaking under my covers with a flash light to read it and straining my eye so badly that I needed to wear a patch for a week! I just could not get enough of this book. So happy I can order!
March 18, 2015
This year I'm going to include kids' chapter books in my yearly tally. Especially since I just finished reading this aloud to my own kids and it took many hours. I'm so thrilled that they loved this as much as I did when I was a kid. Just as delightful as I remembered.
https://fourteenbears.wordpress.com/2...
https://fourteenbears.wordpress.com/2...
July 15, 2007
This book offered endless hours of entertainment for me as a child. I remember that after I finished it, I just started it over again. The style is similar to that of Dahl and I would highly recommend it to any little girl or boy!
October 3, 2021
I remembered really loving this one as a kid and was pleased to find that it wasn't that bad. More of a morality tale than I remembered, and a half- hearted one at that, but still vaguely amusing. What would Butterworth think of our cell phones?
July 19, 2009
I read this in grade school and loved it. Something happens to Jenny and she can hear things from far away. She ends up on a game show and of course, this gift ends abruptly. Can she win on her own? Very cute. Great for kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews