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St. Clare's #2
The O'Sullivan Twins
An alternative cover edition of ISBN 10: 0749719109.
It's the start of the Easter Term and Pat and Isabel, the O'Sullivan twins, are looking forward to meeting all their friends again and to the excitement they know is in store for them. The new girls prove to be a source of much amusement and there is all the fun of boarding-school life as well, especially the midnight parties and playing tricks on the teachers.
Cover design by Button Design Co.
It's the start of the Easter Term and Pat and Isabel, the O'Sullivan twins, are looking forward to meeting all their friends again and to the excitement they know is in store for them. The new girls prove to be a source of much amusement and there is all the fun of boarding-school life as well, especially the midnight parties and playing tricks on the teachers.
Cover design by Button Design Co.
183 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1941
108 people are currently reading
1208 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,139 books6,251 followersSee also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
July 7, 2023
Hanni und Nanni sind 12 Jahre alt und Zwillinge. Sie haben sich inzwischen auf dem Internat Lindenhof sehr gut eingelebt und fühlen sich wohl dort. Nach den Ferien soll auch ihre Cousine Elli das Internat besuchen. Doch Elli ist nicht die einzige neue Schülerin; auch Margret und Lucie haben ihren ersten Schultag auf dem Internat. Werden sie sich gut eingewöhnen und Freundschaften schließen?
**
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe die "Hanni und Nanni"-Reihe schon als Kind mit Begeisterung gelesen. Eigentlich bin ich inzwischen längst aus dem empfohlenen Lesealter heraus, aber ich habe trotzdem noch viel Spaß an den Büchern. Auch dieser zweite Band hat mir wieder sehr gut gefallen. Ich mag den ganz eigenen Charme, den die Internat-Geschichten um die sympathischen Zwillinge haben, und ich werde ganz sicher auch noch weitere Bände der Reihe lesen.
**
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe die "Hanni und Nanni"-Reihe schon als Kind mit Begeisterung gelesen. Eigentlich bin ich inzwischen längst aus dem empfohlenen Lesealter heraus, aber ich habe trotzdem noch viel Spaß an den Büchern. Auch dieser zweite Band hat mir wieder sehr gut gefallen. Ich mag den ganz eigenen Charme, den die Internat-Geschichten um die sympathischen Zwillinge haben, und ich werde ganz sicher auch noch weitere Bände der Reihe lesen.
January 2, 2021
Yes and really rather sadly, I do find it quite frustrating just how quickly in the second book of her St. Clare’s series, Enid Blyton starts relying rather heavily and strongly on extraordinary scenarios such as a boarding school fire and a misunderstood (and typecast as a troublemaker) schoolgirl rescuing another (and of course and naturally totally unworthy and stereotypically horrid girl from certain death. For while The O’Sullivan Twins has indeed been generally readable and enjoyable enough (and once again features tricks, clandestine feasts and both students and form mistresses being both nasty and nice), personally, I for one have equally found Enid Blyton’s general storyline rather predictable at best and becoming more and more reliant on outing the nasties, on teaching rather preachy character lessons and on “bad” girls not only needing to redeem themselves but having to do this not slowly, organically and realistically but by means of heroics, by means of engaging in rather unbelievable feats (such as Margery rescuing Erica) that are at best a trifle fantastic.
And furthermore, I also do kind of have to wonder why the second instalment of the St. Clare’s boarding school novels has been titled The O’Sullivan Twins by Enid Blyton, as really, while Pat and Isabel O’Sullivan do play important roles in the story, their characters are in my opinion no more and and no less significant than ANY of the other St. Clare’s first formers, so why single them out in the book title when the contents of the presented narrative really focuses on ALL first form St. Clare’s pupils and NOT just on Pat and Isabel (and yes, whom I sometimes actually think even play a rather obvious second fiddle so to speak to especially characters Margery, Lucy and Erica).
Combined with the fact that in particular with regard to Lucy and Erica, in The O’Sullivan Twins, Enid Blyton has sadly gone quite out of her way to render Erica into a total and unredeemable “bad apple” (and too one-sidedly horrible to in my opinion be readily believed) and Lucy so all encompassingly good and positive that she also feels just way way too positive to be in any manner realistic (not to mention that Cousin Allison is just way too often being labelled as so-called feather headed), while The O’Sullivan Twins is indeed a decent enough sequel to The Twins at St. Clare’s have definitely not been nearly as enjoyable and much too one-sided and full of overly developed stereotypes.
And furthermore, I also do kind of have to wonder why the second instalment of the St. Clare’s boarding school novels has been titled The O’Sullivan Twins by Enid Blyton, as really, while Pat and Isabel O’Sullivan do play important roles in the story, their characters are in my opinion no more and and no less significant than ANY of the other St. Clare’s first formers, so why single them out in the book title when the contents of the presented narrative really focuses on ALL first form St. Clare’s pupils and NOT just on Pat and Isabel (and yes, whom I sometimes actually think even play a rather obvious second fiddle so to speak to especially characters Margery, Lucy and Erica).
Combined with the fact that in particular with regard to Lucy and Erica, in The O’Sullivan Twins, Enid Blyton has sadly gone quite out of her way to render Erica into a total and unredeemable “bad apple” (and too one-sidedly horrible to in my opinion be readily believed) and Lucy so all encompassingly good and positive that she also feels just way way too positive to be in any manner realistic (not to mention that Cousin Allison is just way too often being labelled as so-called feather headed), while The O’Sullivan Twins is indeed a decent enough sequel to The Twins at St. Clare’s have definitely not been nearly as enjoyable and much too one-sided and full of overly developed stereotypes.
October 3, 2015
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
When I was about 6 years old I received what is still one of the best presents I've ever had: my mum's old Enid Blyton collection. It consisted of the St Clare's books, Mallory Towers, and a small selection of Famous Five, Five Find-Outers, and Adventure-series titles. From that moment onwards I was hooked on reading and for nearly 10 years I re-read at least the boarding school series several times a year. I also started to expand upon my collection of Enid Blyton titles at every possible flea market and second-hand bookshop occasion, and there were a lot of these during my childhood as I'm now the proud owner of several hundreds of her books; all the old versions, with some titles in different languages too, and all still stored at my parents' place in the Netherlands - sorry mum!
Despite my obsession with the St Clare's books in particular, and Enid Blyton in general as I read every possible book on her I could find (this was before the Internet existed) - and was mighty impressed by not only the wealth of books she wrote but also all her other ventures including producing a club magazine, writing short stories and doing a lot of good for children - I haven't actually read any of her books in about 15 years. So when the Novelicious Summer Re-Read was announced I knew it was the perfect opportunity to revisit one of my favourites.
Unfortunately I don't have access to my vast Enid Blyton collection here in the UK and I've just moved house so don't have a card to the local library yet either, but coincidentally enough a few months ago I won a small Enid Blyton book collection and one of the titles included was The O'Sullivan Twins, the second St. Clare's title. I did contemplate for a bit if I should try to get my hands on the first book somehow first, especially as I hadn't read these stories in English before and so thought that with different character names I might get confused, but I tried a chapter and I needn't have worried, it felt as familiar as if I last read the books 15 weeks ago, and not 15 years!
For those unfamiliar with the stories (though is anyone, really?!) they focus on Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan, two teenage girls who are a bit too stuck up for their own good and their parents decide to send them to a more sensible boarding school; St. Clare's. While in the first book the twins are determined to not fit in and do everything they can to get back into their old, much more luxurious, boarding school, they soon realise that St. Clare's is actually a great place to be and they make quick friends with the other girls and most of the teachers; eventually even Mam'zelle Abominable, the French teacher nicknamed that way as she writes 'abominable' on all of the twins' work at first.
In the second book the twins are settled into their routine but there are three new girls that each in their own way provide lots of drama during the term: Alison, who is the twins' vain cousin; Margery, a rude and hot-tempered girl; and Lucy, who is lovely and talented and everyone instantly wants to be friends with, but who too has her own battles to face during the novel. And of course it wouldn't be a boarding school read if there wasn't plenty of mischief riddled throughout as well, from the magical midnight feasts to Janet playing tricks on a teacher.
Even when I read the Enid Blyton books several decades ago they were old-fashioned to me, as I had my mum's copies rather than more contemporary ones that had updated the language. It was part of what I loved so much about them as it added to their charm and made them seem even more magical on top of the fact that they were set in England (which was very exciting to me at the time) and the girls got to sleep at their school! That was clearly the most amazing thing ever, and I desperately wanted to go to boarding school myself after reading these books.
The version I read this time around was far more modern both with the cover (which I didn't like… at all) and the language changed to fit the modern young reader. However, thankfully the story has not been updated to include cellphones and emails, instead there were still plenty of mentions of the girls listening to a record player in the common room and writing letters to their family. I'm very glad that that has remained unchanged.
As for reading the story from an adult's point of view, I loved it as just a much as all those years ago and I STILL want to have a midnight feast. Even though it merely consisted of tinned peaches, birthday cake and ginger beer (and I don't even like ginger beer!) it sounds so absolutely wonderful in the book that I feel like I really missed out on an important part of my childhood by never having had more of a midnight feast than some hastily devoured candy (which ended up making me feel ill!) one late night at summer camp.
The one thing I did notice, and that I didn't realise when reading these stories originally, is that everything is incredibly black and white, and the girls are really quite spiteful with their revenges when someone doesn't act the way they think they should. While it does backfire on them in this novel, from what I remember from the other titles they don't actually learn from it and they still view the other girls as either lovely and their best friend, or someone that ought to learn a lesson and will be ignored for weeks and/or nasty tricks played upon. I realise this was likely this way on purpose to show girls reading the books what was right and wrong, but I don't think it will work with the modern generation who will see right through this.
Despite that though, re-reading The O'Sullivan Twins was an absolutely joy, especially as just like all those years ago I couldn't stop reading it once I opened the book and so I ended up finishing it under my covers far too late at night. I don't remember doing that since the last Harry Potter book came out! Re-reading this book also made me remember how immensely fond I used to be of Enid Blyton's novels and I am now keen to revisit some of my other favourites from her as well; especially the Adventure titles, which was my second favourite series by her hand (swiftly followed by Mallory Towers, Famous Five and Five Find-Outers).
What was your favourite Enid Blyton book?! I know you will have one, so go to your box of childhood classics and dig it out for a well-deserved re-read. You won't regret it, trust me!
When I was about 6 years old I received what is still one of the best presents I've ever had: my mum's old Enid Blyton collection. It consisted of the St Clare's books, Mallory Towers, and a small selection of Famous Five, Five Find-Outers, and Adventure-series titles. From that moment onwards I was hooked on reading and for nearly 10 years I re-read at least the boarding school series several times a year. I also started to expand upon my collection of Enid Blyton titles at every possible flea market and second-hand bookshop occasion, and there were a lot of these during my childhood as I'm now the proud owner of several hundreds of her books; all the old versions, with some titles in different languages too, and all still stored at my parents' place in the Netherlands - sorry mum!
Despite my obsession with the St Clare's books in particular, and Enid Blyton in general as I read every possible book on her I could find (this was before the Internet existed) - and was mighty impressed by not only the wealth of books she wrote but also all her other ventures including producing a club magazine, writing short stories and doing a lot of good for children - I haven't actually read any of her books in about 15 years. So when the Novelicious Summer Re-Read was announced I knew it was the perfect opportunity to revisit one of my favourites.
Unfortunately I don't have access to my vast Enid Blyton collection here in the UK and I've just moved house so don't have a card to the local library yet either, but coincidentally enough a few months ago I won a small Enid Blyton book collection and one of the titles included was The O'Sullivan Twins, the second St. Clare's title. I did contemplate for a bit if I should try to get my hands on the first book somehow first, especially as I hadn't read these stories in English before and so thought that with different character names I might get confused, but I tried a chapter and I needn't have worried, it felt as familiar as if I last read the books 15 weeks ago, and not 15 years!
For those unfamiliar with the stories (though is anyone, really?!) they focus on Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan, two teenage girls who are a bit too stuck up for their own good and their parents decide to send them to a more sensible boarding school; St. Clare's. While in the first book the twins are determined to not fit in and do everything they can to get back into their old, much more luxurious, boarding school, they soon realise that St. Clare's is actually a great place to be and they make quick friends with the other girls and most of the teachers; eventually even Mam'zelle Abominable, the French teacher nicknamed that way as she writes 'abominable' on all of the twins' work at first.
In the second book the twins are settled into their routine but there are three new girls that each in their own way provide lots of drama during the term: Alison, who is the twins' vain cousin; Margery, a rude and hot-tempered girl; and Lucy, who is lovely and talented and everyone instantly wants to be friends with, but who too has her own battles to face during the novel. And of course it wouldn't be a boarding school read if there wasn't plenty of mischief riddled throughout as well, from the magical midnight feasts to Janet playing tricks on a teacher.
Even when I read the Enid Blyton books several decades ago they were old-fashioned to me, as I had my mum's copies rather than more contemporary ones that had updated the language. It was part of what I loved so much about them as it added to their charm and made them seem even more magical on top of the fact that they were set in England (which was very exciting to me at the time) and the girls got to sleep at their school! That was clearly the most amazing thing ever, and I desperately wanted to go to boarding school myself after reading these books.
The version I read this time around was far more modern both with the cover (which I didn't like… at all) and the language changed to fit the modern young reader. However, thankfully the story has not been updated to include cellphones and emails, instead there were still plenty of mentions of the girls listening to a record player in the common room and writing letters to their family. I'm very glad that that has remained unchanged.
As for reading the story from an adult's point of view, I loved it as just a much as all those years ago and I STILL want to have a midnight feast. Even though it merely consisted of tinned peaches, birthday cake and ginger beer (and I don't even like ginger beer!) it sounds so absolutely wonderful in the book that I feel like I really missed out on an important part of my childhood by never having had more of a midnight feast than some hastily devoured candy (which ended up making me feel ill!) one late night at summer camp.
The one thing I did notice, and that I didn't realise when reading these stories originally, is that everything is incredibly black and white, and the girls are really quite spiteful with their revenges when someone doesn't act the way they think they should. While it does backfire on them in this novel, from what I remember from the other titles they don't actually learn from it and they still view the other girls as either lovely and their best friend, or someone that ought to learn a lesson and will be ignored for weeks and/or nasty tricks played upon. I realise this was likely this way on purpose to show girls reading the books what was right and wrong, but I don't think it will work with the modern generation who will see right through this.
Despite that though, re-reading The O'Sullivan Twins was an absolutely joy, especially as just like all those years ago I couldn't stop reading it once I opened the book and so I ended up finishing it under my covers far too late at night. I don't remember doing that since the last Harry Potter book came out! Re-reading this book also made me remember how immensely fond I used to be of Enid Blyton's novels and I am now keen to revisit some of my other favourites from her as well; especially the Adventure titles, which was my second favourite series by her hand (swiftly followed by Mallory Towers, Famous Five and Five Find-Outers).
What was your favourite Enid Blyton book?! I know you will have one, so go to your box of childhood classics and dig it out for a well-deserved re-read. You won't regret it, trust me!
March 16, 2024
Nuevas alumnas y más peripecias, con expulsión y acto de heroísmo incluido 👏. A pesar de su toque carca y moralizante, me sigue gustando esta saga. Es entretenida y me devuelve a mi adolescencia ❤️.
December 27, 2018
It did bring back nostalgic memories. It's too close to home, or rather, to school. The teachers in the book are rude to students and the students are rude to other students and to themselves, and that was how it had been in the schools I went to as a child! Just like my teachers and friends, the characters in the book seem to insult each other with 'idiot', 'stupid' and 'spoilt' whenever they have the chance. Would the characters acquire more depth as the series progresses? I will soon find out :) Reading Blyton's books to process and ascertain why I despised her books after reading only about three of them as a child. Yes, I did not grow up reading Blyton's books.
September 1, 2020
The authors who set us on the road to reading are the hardest to review because they provide a portal into our early life. Rereading Enid Blyton is like holding up a mirror to my childhood and its myriad of accompanying emotions and a form of self-therapy.
June 3, 2020
Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan are eager to return to St. Clare's boarding school for their second term in this sequel to
The Twins at St Clare's
. Unfortunately, they are accompanied by their stuck-up cousin Allison, who has trouble fitting into the school body. Another problem pupil is the irritable Margery Fenworthy, who quickly alienates all of the other girls, and is sent to Coventry after spoiling their chances of being taken to a play, by her rude behavior to mistress. When some of Pat's things start to turn up deliberately vandalized - he sweater, her notebook - everyone blame Margery, when the real culprit is . As is sent home in disgrace, the girls learn that Margery has a very difficult home life, and Pat and Lucy try to lend a helping hand. Janet, in the meantime, decides to revenge herself on Mam'zelle, the French mistress, with unexpectedly serious results...
Published in 1942, the year after The Twins at St Clare's , The O'Sullivan Twins is another entertaining, lighthearted schoolgirl romp. Like its predecessor, it was an assigned text in the class I took on the history of children's literature, while I was getting my masters. The story here is engaging, and the main characters (for the most part) sympathetic. I did wonder a bit at the fact that we are led to sympathize with Margery, and to understand that her bad behavior has a cause - the unhappy home life - but seems to be depicted as naturally bad, with no real explanation given for her behavior, other than malice. A contradiction that stands out? I was also struck by the the fact that the episode involving Janet and Mam'zelle was so similar to the story of Miss Kennedy, in the previous book. Here again we have a schoolgirl prank gone wrong, and deeply affecting the teacher target, who turns out to have a sick relative, and to be human after all. It's not that I didn't enjoy this part of the story, but it felt like Blyton was recycling the same idea too quickly.
Although I didn't enjoy it quite as much as The Twins at St Clare's , this was still an engaging read, and is one I would recommend to those who enjoyed the earlier book. I'll have to see about rereading these, perhaps, and carrying on with the series.
Published in 1942, the year after The Twins at St Clare's , The O'Sullivan Twins is another entertaining, lighthearted schoolgirl romp. Like its predecessor, it was an assigned text in the class I took on the history of children's literature, while I was getting my masters. The story here is engaging, and the main characters (for the most part) sympathetic. I did wonder a bit at the fact that we are led to sympathize with Margery, and to understand that her bad behavior has a cause - the unhappy home life - but seems to be depicted as naturally bad, with no real explanation given for her behavior, other than malice. A contradiction that stands out? I was also struck by the the fact that the episode involving Janet and Mam'zelle was so similar to the story of Miss Kennedy, in the previous book. Here again we have a schoolgirl prank gone wrong, and deeply affecting the teacher target, who turns out to have a sick relative, and to be human after all. It's not that I didn't enjoy this part of the story, but it felt like Blyton was recycling the same idea too quickly.
Although I didn't enjoy it quite as much as The Twins at St Clare's , this was still an engaging read, and is one I would recommend to those who enjoyed the earlier book. I'll have to see about rereading these, perhaps, and carrying on with the series.
June 5, 2025
Kembali bersama si kembar O'Sullivan ke sekolah asrama St. Clare, beberapa murid baru menambah semarak kisah siswi-siswi periang ini. Dari Margery yang kerap bermuka masam, Lucy yang penuh semangat, Allison, sepupu si kembar yang doyan mengoceh, Erica yang tak berbudi dan tentu saja Janet yang kembali membuat ulah dengan tingkah jahilnya. Menyenangkan untuk mengikuti kisah gadis-gadis remaja ini yang alurnya terjalin rapi oleh novelis kawakan Enid Blyton.
June 7, 2016
I'm going to be deliberately provocative here and begin with the assertion that this might be one of the best school stories out there.
At first glance, this is a strange assertion to make: The O'Sullivan Twins is the second novel in a series, and it's not often that the second in the series is the one that stands out above the rest. It's usually the first, or the last, but those middle novels rarely get the praise. They're caught, somehow, in a space of bridging from one part of the story to the next, and rarely get positioned as stories within their own rights as opposed to textual conjunctions.
And, yet, once we move past that question of position, of context, then we have to consider the book itself and even that proves somewhat complicated. There are new girls; one that's a family relation of the O'Sullivan twins and almost too near to the 'girls we've just met' to be considered as a 'girl we're yet to know'; a Girl With A Past, a girl who is lovely, and there is an elaborate midnight feast involving the best possible moment involving sausages I have perhaps to read in this genre.
A ridiculous, wonderful amalgam, and it's wonderful because Blyton makes it work. She writes this novel with a fixed determination upon enjoyment and pace and readability. A complex author, yes, but one who could write story when she wanted to and this is amongst her best. It's well told, brilliant stuff, and it hits moments which are both deeply thrilling and rampantly moving, often in the same paragraph. Blyton could write, she could write well, and this is a book that makes you long to go to St Clare's. It's a book which presents femininity, girlhood, as a thing with a thousand different faces and there's something rather exhilarating about reading it and recognising the permissive state of such a construct. Girls can be good, bad, complicated, nasty. These girls can and will be anything they want to be and Blyton will move heaven and earth to allow that happen.
At first glance, this is a strange assertion to make: The O'Sullivan Twins is the second novel in a series, and it's not often that the second in the series is the one that stands out above the rest. It's usually the first, or the last, but those middle novels rarely get the praise. They're caught, somehow, in a space of bridging from one part of the story to the next, and rarely get positioned as stories within their own rights as opposed to textual conjunctions.
And, yet, once we move past that question of position, of context, then we have to consider the book itself and even that proves somewhat complicated. There are new girls; one that's a family relation of the O'Sullivan twins and almost too near to the 'girls we've just met' to be considered as a 'girl we're yet to know'; a Girl With A Past, a girl who is lovely, and there is an elaborate midnight feast involving the best possible moment involving sausages I have perhaps to read in this genre.
A ridiculous, wonderful amalgam, and it's wonderful because Blyton makes it work. She writes this novel with a fixed determination upon enjoyment and pace and readability. A complex author, yes, but one who could write story when she wanted to and this is amongst her best. It's well told, brilliant stuff, and it hits moments which are both deeply thrilling and rampantly moving, often in the same paragraph. Blyton could write, she could write well, and this is a book that makes you long to go to St Clare's. It's a book which presents femininity, girlhood, as a thing with a thousand different faces and there's something rather exhilarating about reading it and recognising the permissive state of such a construct. Girls can be good, bad, complicated, nasty. These girls can and will be anything they want to be and Blyton will move heaven and earth to allow that happen.
December 30, 2024
An ok read. Still not as good as Malory Towers.
30/12/2024
Down to 2*'s. Repetitive. Same characters as last book, different names.
30/12/2024
Down to 2*'s. Repetitive. Same characters as last book, different names.
October 16, 2019
Pat and Isabel are now happy to go back to St Clare's. This time, their cousin Alison is joining them and they are looking forward to showing her the ropes. The twins don't figure as much in this book as they did in the first. The limelight goes on to the new girls: Alison O'Sullivan, Margery Fenworthy, Lucy Oriell, and Erica from the second form.
For some reason, there is a lot of mixing between the first and second forms in this book, with the second formers inviting the twins and Janet for parties and stuff. It wasn't nearly as much fun as there were far too many girls I was not interested in. I knew I wasn't going to see them again.
Also, this has to be the most melodramatic book of the series. Margery becomes a heroine by saving someone's life. Erica is spiteful to the point of being criminal. And as for Lucy, she is oh, so brilliant that she can take exams a few years before anyone else, not to mention being "good" and nice and cheerful all the time.
I didn't really enjoy this one, but there were a few bright moments, so not a complete loss.
For some reason, there is a lot of mixing between the first and second forms in this book, with the second formers inviting the twins and Janet for parties and stuff. It wasn't nearly as much fun as there were far too many girls I was not interested in. I knew I wasn't going to see them again.
Also, this has to be the most melodramatic book of the series. Margery becomes a heroine by saving someone's life. Erica is spiteful to the point of being criminal. And as for Lucy, she is oh, so brilliant that she can take exams a few years before anyone else, not to mention being "good" and nice and cheerful all the time.
I didn't really enjoy this one, but there were a few bright moments, so not a complete loss.
May 12, 2021
I was half-asleep while listening to the ending so excuse me if I don't remember stuff about the ending.
I really liked marjorie's (is that how it's spelled?) character development!
And ofc I loved the St. Claire twins as usual. And Lucy was such a cute character.
Erika realized her mistake at last so I forgive her.
Definitely continuing on with the series.
I really liked marjorie's (is that how it's spelled?) character development!
And ofc I loved the St. Claire twins as usual. And Lucy was such a cute character.
Erika realized her mistake at last so I forgive her.
Definitely continuing on with the series.
Read
June 11, 2021I loved this series, it’s one of my childhood favourites. This was one of the first books I read set in a boarding school, and this series holds a special place in my heart. Would highly recommend it, it’s a fun read. ❤️
November 21, 2019
Jeugdnostalgie, uit de minibieb gevist. Jammer dat niet de hele serie erin lag. Ik heb nu twee Dolle Tweelingboeken
July 14, 2007
I LOOOVEEEED the St. Clare's books! I bought the whole series at the annual school book sale and read them all in 2 months! This was my obsession before Harry Potter lol
Actually, there are only 3 book series that I absolutely love:
1. My first book obsession was with a children's book (in Greek) that my grandma used to read me in bed before I even went to school. It was published by Stratiki and it had all these pretty pictures! When I was in 1st grade I found the other 5 books of the series and got them all! i still cry when I read them, especially when the fairies die (that's right, they die!). I googled the books and after a 2-hour search I managed to find them at a greek school library. Here are the names:
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : οι κάτοικοι του δάσους.- Αθήνα : Αφοί Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 60 σ.: εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : έρχονται οι γίγαντες.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 59 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : στη χώρα των νάνων.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [1983;:], 58 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : οι νεράϊδες του δάσους.- Αθήνα : Αφοί Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 60 σ.+ εικ.>
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : τα μεγάλα ζιζάνια.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 60 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : Η παράξενη χώρα.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [1983;:], 59 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
If, by any chance, you want to read a good story and you know greek, BUY THESE BOOKS!!!!!
2. The St. Clare's series. Even though I had no clue what lacrosse was, I absolutely loved these books and that's when I started getting obsessed with going to a boarding school. Oh, well....
3. Finally, the big HP obsession!!! It all started one bright (and very hot) June morning after my 2nd year in Gymnasium (1999) when I went to Solonion (a bookstore in Nicosia) to get some English books for the summer. I had to read 5 books for my English class. I was hanging around in the bookstore, looking around books, and I came across to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I liked the picture on the cover and I opened it. On the 1st page it said that it won the Children's Book Smarties Award. Now at the time, I was OBSESSED with smarties, which kind of look like m&m's but they actually taste better. So I thought "if smarties say it's a good book, it must really is one!" (I AM NOT KIDDING!!!!) So I read the 1st chapter in the bookstore (I always do that - plus it was 22 pounds!) and I LOVED it! I have been a potterfan ever since!
Actually, there are only 3 book series that I absolutely love:
1. My first book obsession was with a children's book (in Greek) that my grandma used to read me in bed before I even went to school. It was published by Stratiki and it had all these pretty pictures! When I was in 1st grade I found the other 5 books of the series and got them all! i still cry when I read them, especially when the fairies die (that's right, they die!). I googled the books and after a 2-hour search I managed to find them at a greek school library. Here are the names:
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : οι κάτοικοι του δάσους.- Αθήνα : Αφοί Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 60 σ.: εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : έρχονται οι γίγαντες.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 59 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : στη χώρα των νάνων.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [1983;:], 58 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : οι νεράϊδες του δάσους.- Αθήνα : Αφοί Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 60 σ.+ εικ.>
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : τα μεγάλα ζιζάνια.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [19-;:], 60 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
Wolf, T., Ο παραμυθένιος κόσμος του δάσους : Η παράξενη χώρα.- Αθήνα : Στρατίκη, [1983;:], 59 σ.: έγχρ. εικ.
If, by any chance, you want to read a good story and you know greek, BUY THESE BOOKS!!!!!
2. The St. Clare's series. Even though I had no clue what lacrosse was, I absolutely loved these books and that's when I started getting obsessed with going to a boarding school. Oh, well....
3. Finally, the big HP obsession!!! It all started one bright (and very hot) June morning after my 2nd year in Gymnasium (1999) when I went to Solonion (a bookstore in Nicosia) to get some English books for the summer. I had to read 5 books for my English class. I was hanging around in the bookstore, looking around books, and I came across to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I liked the picture on the cover and I opened it. On the 1st page it said that it won the Children's Book Smarties Award. Now at the time, I was OBSESSED with smarties, which kind of look like m&m's but they actually taste better. So I thought "if smarties say it's a good book, it must really is one!" (I AM NOT KIDDING!!!!) So I read the 1st chapter in the bookstore (I always do that - plus it was 22 pounds!) and I LOVED it! I have been a potterfan ever since!
May 7, 2019
As much as I like the first book, I prefer this one. We know the characters now, more are introduced, there's more action and things just feel bigger. It's a good setup for the next book, which I also really like- and had to restrain myself from starting to reread as soon as I finished this one! :)
May 27, 2017
verry fascinating book and I am proud to be the owner of this book. Couldn't get my head out of it. when I had any spare time I would begin to read. Was so so funny even forgot about drawing it was a real page turner.
October 2, 2023
Tan divertido como el anterior. Cómo disfruto de las historias en internados.
October 13, 2017
I say, what fun!
December 28, 2017
Just as lovely at age 22 as it was at age 12 ❤️
March 25, 2022
https://www.dominicamat.gr/2022/03/2_...
https://vivliovamon.blogspot.com/2022...
ΒΙΒΛΙΟΠΡΟΤΑΣΗ
Επιστροφή στα αγαπημένα μου παιδικά βιβλία,έχοντας αυτήν την φορά συντροφιά το βιβλίο της αείμνηστης συγγραφέως Ένιντ Μπλάιτον,με τίτλο ''Μια ηρωίδα στο Σεν Κλερ (2)",που επανακυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Μίνωας σε μετάφραση της κυρίας Καλλιόπης Α. Σφαέλλου-Βενιζέλου. Ένα βιβλίο που χάρη στην όμορφη καί διδακτική του ιστορία αναφέρεται σε σημαντικά κοινωνικά ζητήματα βοηθώντας τα μικρά παιδιά,που θα το διαβάσουν,να αντιληφθούν την αξία της προσφοράς στο συνάνθρωπο,την ομορφιά της φιλίας,την αποδοχή,την ανιδιοτέλεια,καθώς καί να αναπτύξουν την ενσυναίσθησή τους. Ένα βιβλίο που ο κοινωνικός του προβληματισμός θα έπρεπε να αφορά κι εμάς τους ενηλίκους. Ένα βιβλίο,που αντιλαμβανόμαστε από τον αριθμό (2) που περιέχεται σε αυτόν,πως πρόκειται για την δεύτερη περιπέτεια ��ων δίδυμων Ο'Σάλιβαν στο σχολείο τους το Σεν Κλερ.
"Μια νέα σχολική περίοδος ξεκινά στο Σεν Κλερ και οι δίδυμες Ο’Σάλιβαν ανυπομονούν να συναντήσουν ξανά τους φίλους τους. Εδώ το ενδιαφέρον όλων των μαθητριών επικεντρώνεται στη Μάργκεριτ Φένγουορθ, γύρω από την οποία δημιουργείται εχθρικό κλίμα. Το «μαύρο πρόβατο» όμως αποδεικνύεται ένα κορίτσι με σπάνιο θάρρος που θα κερδίσει μια θέση στην καρδιά όλων." (Περίληψη οπισθοφύλλου)
Η εφηβεία εκτός από μία μεταβατική περίοδος στη ζωή όλων των ανθρώπων,δεν παύει να συνδέεται με αρκετά σκαμπανεβάσματα στην ευαίσθητη κι εύθραυστη ψυχολογία όλων όσων την βιώνουν. Χρειάζεται υπομονή καί κατανόηση από τον οικογενειακό καί φιλικό περίγυρο. Οφείλουμε να ακούμε τους προβληματισμούς των εφήβων. Να τους/τις βοηθάμε να λύνουν τα όποια προβλήματά τους καί να εξωτερικεύουν σκέψεις καί συναισθήματα. Συνετό θα είναι να μην αφήνουμε στο περιθώριο εφήβους/ες που μοιάζουν πιο απόμακροι/ες,αυστηροί/ες ,ίσως καί κάπως απείθαρχοι/ες. Θα πρέπει να έχουμε κατά νου πως δεν γνωρίζουμε πάντα το τι συμβαίνει στην ζωή ενός άλλου ανθρώπου καί κατ'επέκταση στο σπίτι που μένει,όταν κλείνουν οι πόρτες. Ας μην κρίνουμε τόσο γρήγορα κι αβίαστα. Κι αυτό είναι κάτι που πρέπει να το έχουμε ως κανόνα,όχι μόνο της δικής μας συμπεριφοράς,αλλά καί των παιδιών μας.
Όπως έχω ξαναπεί,αγαπώ να διαβάζω τα παιδικά βιβλία της συγγραφέως γιατί οι ιστορίες τους διακρίνονται για τον ψυχαγωγικό,διδακτικό,μα καί διαχρονικό τους χαρακτήρα. Γιατί αν το καλοσκεφτούμε,τα εν λόγω βιβλία έχουν ένα πιο γεμάτο υπόβαθρο που θεωρούνται κατάλληλα ακόμα καί για εμάς τους ενηλίκους που μεγαλώνοντας,δεν χάνουμε μόνο την αθωότητά μας,αλλά ξεχνάμε καί τα σημαντικά που είχαμε μάθει ως παιδιά. Κι όλα τα παραπάνω τα βρήκα στο παρόν βιβλίο,που μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ καί το διάβασα με μία ανάσα.
Θετικά στοιχεία βιβλίου:
- Περιεκτική καί καλογραμμένη ιστορία
- Αμεσότητα λόγου
- Απτά παραδείγματα
- Αληθοφάνεια χαρακτήρων
- Πλούσιο λεξιλόγιο καί ορθή χρήση εκφραστικών μέσων
- Κοινωνικός χαρακτήρας βιβλίου που θέτει τους σωστούς προβληματισμούς
Ένα βιβλίο που σας προτρέπω να αναζητήσετε κι εσείς. Παράλληλα,μπορείτε να προμηθευτείτε καί το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς "Κολέγιο Σεν Κλερ" (κυκλοφορεί κι αυτό από τις εκδόσεις Μίνωας,όπως κι άλλα έργα της συγγραφέως) με τίτλο "Στο κολέγιο του Σεν Κλερ (1)".
Καλή ανάγνωση!
https://vivliovamon.blogspot.com/2022...
ΒΙΒΛΙΟΠΡΟΤΑΣΗ
Επιστροφή στα αγαπημένα μου παιδικά βιβλία,έχοντας αυτήν την φορά συντροφιά το βιβλίο της αείμνηστης συγγραφέως Ένιντ Μπλάιτον,με τίτλο ''Μια ηρωίδα στο Σεν Κλερ (2)",που επανακυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Μίνωας σε μετάφραση της κυρίας Καλλιόπης Α. Σφαέλλου-Βενιζέλου. Ένα βιβλίο που χάρη στην όμορφη καί διδακτική του ιστορία αναφέρεται σε σημαντικά κοινωνικά ζητήματα βοηθώντας τα μικρά παιδιά,που θα το διαβάσουν,να αντιληφθούν την αξία της προσφοράς στο συνάνθρωπο,την ομορφιά της φιλίας,την αποδοχή,την ανιδιοτέλεια,καθώς καί να αναπτύξουν την ενσυναίσθησή τους. Ένα βιβλίο που ο κοινωνικός του προβληματισμός θα έπρεπε να αφορά κι εμάς τους ενηλίκους. Ένα βιβλίο,που αντιλαμβανόμαστε από τον αριθμό (2) που περιέχεται σε αυτόν,πως πρόκειται για την δεύτερη περιπέτεια ��ων δίδυμων Ο'Σάλιβαν στο σχολείο τους το Σεν Κλερ.
"Μια νέα σχολική περίοδος ξεκινά στο Σεν Κλερ και οι δίδυμες Ο’Σάλιβαν ανυπομονούν να συναντήσουν ξανά τους φίλους τους. Εδώ το ενδιαφέρον όλων των μαθητριών επικεντρώνεται στη Μάργκεριτ Φένγουορθ, γύρω από την οποία δημιουργείται εχθρικό κλίμα. Το «μαύρο πρόβατο» όμως αποδεικνύεται ένα κορίτσι με σπάνιο θάρρος που θα κερδίσει μια θέση στην καρδιά όλων." (Περίληψη οπισθοφύλλου)
Η εφηβεία εκτός από μία μεταβατική περίοδος στη ζωή όλων των ανθρώπων,δεν παύει να συνδέεται με αρκετά σκαμπανεβάσματα στην ευαίσθητη κι εύθραυστη ψυχολογία όλων όσων την βιώνουν. Χρειάζεται υπομονή καί κατανόηση από τον οικογενειακό καί φιλικό περίγυρο. Οφείλουμε να ακούμε τους προβληματισμούς των εφήβων. Να τους/τις βοηθάμε να λύνουν τα όποια προβλήματά τους καί να εξωτερικεύουν σκέψεις καί συναισθήματα. Συνετό θα είναι να μην αφήνουμε στο περιθώριο εφήβους/ες που μοιάζουν πιο απόμακροι/ες,αυστηροί/ες ,ίσως καί κάπως απείθαρχοι/ες. Θα πρέπει να έχουμε κατά νου πως δεν γνωρίζουμε πάντα το τι συμβαίνει στην ζωή ενός άλλου ανθρώπου καί κατ'επέκταση στο σπίτι που μένει,όταν κλείνουν οι πόρτες. Ας μην κρίνουμε τόσο γρήγορα κι αβίαστα. Κι αυτό είναι κάτι που πρέπει να το έχουμε ως κανόνα,όχι μόνο της δικής μας συμπεριφοράς,αλλά καί των παιδιών μας.
Όπως έχω ξαναπεί,αγαπώ να διαβάζω τα παιδικά βιβλία της συγγραφέως γιατί οι ιστορίες τους διακρίνονται για τον ψυχαγωγικό,διδακτικό,μα καί διαχρονικό τους χαρακτήρα. Γιατί αν το καλοσκεφτούμε,τα εν λόγω βιβλία έχουν ένα πιο γεμάτο υπόβαθρο που θεωρούνται κατάλληλα ακόμα καί για εμάς τους ενηλίκους που μεγαλώνοντας,δεν χάνουμε μόνο την αθωότητά μας,αλλά ξεχνάμε καί τα σημαντικά που είχαμε μάθει ως παιδιά. Κι όλα τα παραπάνω τα βρήκα στο παρόν βιβλίο,που μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ καί το διάβασα με μία ανάσα.
Θετικά στοιχεία βιβλίου:
- Περιεκτική καί καλογραμμένη ιστορία
- Αμεσότητα λόγου
- Απτά παραδείγματα
- Αληθοφάνεια χαρακτήρων
- Πλούσιο λεξιλόγιο καί ορθή χρήση εκφραστικών μέσων
- Κοινωνικός χαρακτήρας βιβλίου που θέτει τους σωστούς προβληματισμούς
Ένα βιβλίο που σας προτρέπω να αναζητήσετε κι εσείς. Παράλληλα,μπορείτε να προμηθευτείτε καί το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς "Κολέγιο Σεν Κλερ" (κυκλοφορεί κι αυτό από τις εκδόσεις Μίνωας,όπως κι άλλα έργα της συγγραφέως) με τίτλο "Στο κολέγιο του Σεν Κλερ (1)".
Καλή ανάγνωση!
May 6, 2025
my favourite bit was the headteacher asking lucy the fourteen year old student, “what should we do with that vapid cow erica? she’s as vain as a peacock and she’s been a right sneak and all she does is bleat.” and lucy saying “miss theobold i don’t think she can face us seeing as she’s been a pig this term and we all want to rip her hair out so we should expel her so hopefully she can learn to be better behaved at another school and be a sport to some other girls”, and the head teacher saying “yes lucy that is wise what a brick you are”.
big hit with my regulars at work today so extra star for that xxxx
big hit with my regulars at work today so extra star for that xxxx
October 10, 2017
** Books 274 - 2017 **
3,4 dari 5 bintang!
Baru selese baca buku pertamanya lalu saya ketagihan untuk membaca buku keduanya untuk mengikuti kisah kekonyolan gadis-gadis kelas satu dan dua di St. Clare padahal timbunan buku saya dirumah sudah akut menumpuk
Terimakasih Scoop Premium!
3,4 dari 5 bintang!
Baru selese baca buku pertamanya lalu saya ketagihan untuk membaca buku keduanya untuk mengikuti kisah kekonyolan gadis-gadis kelas satu dan dua di St. Clare padahal timbunan buku saya dirumah sudah akut menumpuk
Terimakasih Scoop Premium!
December 4, 2022
Another great book filled to the brim with adventures! Having different subplots makes the book feel longer. However; it also doesn't leave much room to get to know the characters better! But this is only the second book. I expect to know more about them as they grow up and mature!
October 12, 2023
After delve back into my childhood. Such innocent times and the twins although full of mischief there is no malice in what they do. Life was slower and school on the whole was fun. I enjoyed reading this again after such a long time. Happy days.
April 18, 2020
Lucy and Margery are my best girls.
June 10, 2020
Better than the first book, full of thrilling incidents!
June 10, 2021
Gosto muito dos livros da Enid Blyton, mas agora ainda mais adoro pois estou a lê-los em inglês. Uma experiência diferente e interessante!
Read
January 20, 2022It's another term at St Clare's and this time the twins are going back with their cousin, Alison, who is a bit too stuck up for their liking. But Alison is soon eclipsed by Margery, a strong sporty girl who seems to dislike and be disliked by everyone.
The second book in the St Clare's series is a bit confused about what it wants to be. It starts by introducing Alison who is a bit of a sap - she likes fashion and doesn't want to play sports, and she cries a lot - therefore they bully her. I was dreading a whole book of this but the story takes a turn and focuses on Margery instead, who they ALSO bully because she doesn't care to make herself likable so they decide she is Enemy. Of course Margery comes good in the end while Erica, who while not being the nicest of girls IS ALSO BEING BULLIED BY THE WAY, is shamed and sent away in disgrace.
These books are quite enjoyable to read while also being, like, textbook case of 'conform or we'll make you conform' lol it's not even the teachers enforcing this, it's a self-reflexive little prism of do and be a good St Clare's girl or else.
The second book in the St Clare's series is a bit confused about what it wants to be. It starts by introducing Alison who is a bit of a sap - she likes fashion and doesn't want to play sports, and she cries a lot - therefore they bully her. I was dreading a whole book of this but the story takes a turn and focuses on Margery instead, who they ALSO bully because she doesn't care to make herself likable so they decide she is Enemy. Of course Margery comes good in the end while Erica, who while not being the nicest of girls IS ALSO BEING BULLIED BY THE WAY, is shamed and sent away in disgrace.
These books are quite enjoyable to read while also being, like, textbook case of 'conform or we'll make you conform' lol it's not even the teachers enforcing this, it's a self-reflexive little prism of do and be a good St Clare's girl or else.
March 9, 2022
Another eventful term in St. Clare!
—but a joke's not a joke when it means real unhappiness to somebody else.
—but a joke's not a joke when it means real unhappiness to somebody else.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews