Summer Term at St Clare's

St. Clare's #3

by Enid Blyton

Twins Pat and Isabel are disappointed when they have to miss the first week of the new term. But they soon settle down again, and the summer term brings all sorts of excitement and several new girls, some of whom are less popular than others.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Boarding School, Young Adult, School Stories, Middle Grade

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1943

About the author

See 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

Reviews

[♡ Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hanni und Nanni sind nun schon in der siebten Klasse, und nach den Ferien gibt es gleich fünf neue Mitschülerinnen im Internat Lindenhof! Da ist einmal Roberta, die sich als lustiges und fröhliches Mädchen entpuppt. Ganz anders ist die schüchterne Petra, die sich viel in ihren Büchern vergräbt. Carlotta hat spanische Wurzeln und ist sehr temperamentvoll. Außerdem umgibt sie ein Geheimnis. Sadie ist aus Amerika und sehr auf ihr Äußeres bedacht. Und dann ist da noch Helene, die sich schnell unbeliebt macht...
**
Mein Leseeindruck:
Hanni und Nanni sind aus meiner Kindheit gar nicht wegzudenken. Ich bin quasi mit ihnen aufgewachsen, und daher freut es mich um so mehr, dass ich nun die Bücher alle noch einmal lesen kann.
Dieser dritte Band hat mir wieder sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Ich mag den Charme, den diese "alten", und doch immer noch aktuellen Geschichten haben.
Das Buch hat sich wieder sehr schnell lesen lassen und mir einige schöne Lesemomente geschenkt.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schon als Kind war Hanni und Nanni Band 3 immer einer meiner bevorzugten Bände. Irgendwie hatte ich das Gefühl, dass sich die Geschichte durch Carlotta etwas ausweitet und auch mal außerhalb der Schule spielt.
Besonders gefällt mir hier, dass wir einige neue Schülerinnen kennenlernen, die auch im langfristigen Storyverlauf erhalten bleiben: Carlotta, Bobby und Petra (im englischen Hörbuch heißt sie Pam). Natürlich - weil Enid Blyton halt auch echt nur schwarz und weiß kennt und vielschichtige Charaktere wohl ihr Gehalt überschritten - gab es auch wieder eine sehr klischeehaft-überzeichnete falsche Schlange, diesmal hieß sie Helene (oder im englischen Hörbuch "Prudence" - hahahaha ja mit so einem Namen kann man wirklich kein guter Mensch sein). Auch die kleine Amerikanerin Sadie konnte sich bei diesem Reread in mein Herz schleichen. Fand es süß, dass sie alles nicht so ernst nahm und über sich selbst lachen konnte.
Bobby und Carlotta sind auch in den späteren Büchern zwei meiner Lieblingscharaktere und so habe ich mich sehr gefreut, dass sie hier endlich aufgetaucht sind. Aufgefallen ist mir aber, dass Bobby irgendwie fast der gleiche Charakter ist wie Jenny. Dadurch wurde Jenny in diesem Band ziemlich an den Rand gedrängt und tauchte kaum noch auf. Für lustige Streiche war ja jetzt Bobby da... schade, da ich Jenny immer sehr gern hatte.

Jaaa Handlung war unrealitisch as fuck but I don't care, I'm here for nostalgia.

Zu kritisieren sind wie immer Enid Blytons Moralvorstellungen, that woman is reallyyyy stuck up. Der Grat zwischen "goody-goody", also "zu brav" und "unmöglich" ist bei Blyton sehr eng und Hanni und Nanni samt Freundeskreis befinden sich genau auf diesem Grat. Alles, was auch nur einen Millimeter davon entfernt ist, wird von oben herab behandelt und muss nach einem Buch die Schule verlassen 🙂

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

So indeed, I am really (even if perhaps futilely) hoping that the St. Clare’s series will after this to and for me rather unremarkable third book, after Summer Term at St. Clare’s, become not so frustratingly on the proverbial surface anymore with author Enid Blyton’s one-sidedness and preachiness (as no indeed, I do not really want to keep reading sermon after sermon on honour, on being honest towards everyone including oneself, on playing and working hard, for that kind of repetition does have the tendency to quickly and lastingly engender tedium).

And honestly, with oh so “typically” Spanish and erstwhile Circus Girl Carlotta Brown, stereotypically and only interested in her hair and make-up American heiress Sadie and yet another totally vile and horridly mean spirited (and of course and naturally also as such absolutely unredeemable and just to be cast aside) bad girl Prudence, I have found Summer Term at St. Clare’s rather annoying and monotonous at best (and with especially Carlotta's circus antics, Sadie’s kidnapping and rescue really stretching my sense of belief, and yes, even with the full knowledge that British school stories often seem to rely on extraordinary and unbelievable scenarios such as kidnappings, spying and the like, as I guess I was kind of hoping that Enid Blyton would refrain from the ready-made heroics of boarding school girls acting like detectives and actively saving victims of crime).

Now while I am of course planning on continuing with the St. Clare’s series, I do indeed find it more than a trifle problematic that instead of the novels becoming more mature and nuanced as the series progresses and the girls themselves get older and more educated, in particular with regard to Enid Blyton relying on stereotypes and making snide comments about different cultures and countries (such as Spain, France and in Summer Term at St. Clare’s especially the U.S.A), the series actually seems to be somewhat regressing (and while I am certainly hoping that this trend will at least diminish a bit in the final three instalments of the St. Clare’s series, I will of course also not be holding my proverbial breath with expectation, as from what I have seen happening from The Twins at St. Clare’s to this third novel, to Summer Term at St. Clare’s, rather the opposite has in my opinion shown been occurring).

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series, innocent days, lots of midnight feasts and mischievous girls. Such a wonderful series.

[Nilguen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh my books I read throughout primary school...how I used to love the stories of these twin sisters Hanni & Nanni 🤗 are-read to honour the Children's Day today.

[Kavita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The summer term brings out new girls like snails in the rainy season. This time, there are five new girls in the first form! That's quite the record. And they are all oddballs in their various ways. The summer term also brings out Blyton's xenophobia to dizzying new heights. There are two foreigners in St Clare's *gasp*! Blyton must have simply fainted on the street if she ever came across a Turk, African, Chinese, or Indian on the street, which had become common by the time she died!

Carlotta Brown is half-Spanish and hence, fiery, wild, uncontrollable. As Spanish people are, you know! She also has some mysterious affinity to the circus and can do amazing gymnastics. But Carlotta does make friends and half the form are in awe of her, so it all turns out quite well for her.

The other foreigner, Sadie Green, is an American heiress. Now this is a trope that started in British books at the turn of the century and went on till after WWII. From Downton Abbey to P.G. Wodehouse, rich American heiresses were the norm. Blyton doesn't buck this trend and also makes Sadie a pretty airhead with interests in make-up and cinema. *eyeroll* She also manages to get herself into trouble through the meddling of a third new girl,

Prudence Arnold. Now this is a normal English girl brought up in a vicarage, but looks like Blyton doesn't like religious people either. Prudence is the villain of this piece. For some reason, she takes an intense dislike to Carlotta - wait, the reason probably is class distinction and racism. In her bid to make life difficult for Carlotta, Prudence ends up getting Sadie into some very serious trouble. Her meanness and lying make life difficult for everyone, and she is one of the few girls who don't improve.

Roberta Ellis is just a more daring copy of Janet and isn't very interesting. She does get some screen time, though. Her presence makes Janet more pleasant, though. Pam Boardman is young and a swot. She spends her time with her nose buried in books and doesn't really have much of a story.

I rather enjoyed this but the constant stereotyping was a bit annoying. Also, why can't Carlotta speak French at least as well as the English? As far as I know, French is similar enough to Spanish. Oh well, more Blytonisms. Just like French not being good at sports. Whatever!

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing return to the font for school-story enthusiasts. The Twins are delightfully keen - except of course in French. The headmistress Miss Theobald a model of good sense and firmness tempered with compassion.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed out on this series as a child but am enjoying reading the books now.

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final instalment of first form life at St. Clare’s - more characters, more mayhem. Good fun.

[Arunima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I revisited this series. Such fond memories.

[Rashu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

not the best time of the year to read this ,but i enjoyed it.

[Ira Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melihat covernya, sepertinya petualangan si kembar Pat dan Isabel O'Sullivan di semester musim panas ini ada hubungannya dengan sirkus.

Terus ada beberapa murid baru yang sifat dan kelakuannya beragam. Salah satunya ada yang mempunyai sifat yang errr... tidak begitu baik.

Berhasilkah St. Clare mendidik murid - murid baru ini menjadi murid yang memiliki budi pekerti yang baik?

Lagi, dibuku ini saya merasa seakan-akan ikut kembali ke St. Clare bersama Pat dan Isabel. Mengikuti kegiatan si kembar di sekolah berasrama. Melihat perjuangan para gadis remaja ini untuk menjadi murid yang berbudi dan cerdas.

Bagian yang paling saya suka adalah saat Bu Theobald menggunakan kebijaksanaan dan kecerdasannya untuk merubah sikap jelek anak-anak didiknya. Bisa menjadi referensi bagi para orang tua.

At last, 4 dari 5 bintang untuk buku ini. I really liked it.

[Pervinca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting book! while i loved the adventures in this book, i was hoping for more character development. i don't like the stereotypes put on Carlotta, even though i really like the character. Other than that, it was entertaining and i had lots of fun!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blyton goes noir... After a gentle start to the series, she brings out the big-gun bullying here, with Prudence against poor Pam, and a rather bizarre kidnap attempt on the rich American girl, Sadie. I have to say, I thought I'd read all the books, but I have no memory of this, other than Carlotta and Bobby, who are also quite prominent in the follow-up, so maybe I missed this one out. My daughter's still enjoying them - I fear we may have to read all eight before I get to introduce her to The Hobbit (or before she decides she is too old for bedtime stories... NOOOOO!!!) - but she kept wondering why the O'Sullivan twins weren't in it as much. As did I - their Irish accent is one of the most fun things about reading the books aloud, and I'm running out of variations on English accents for all the new characters...

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Books 280 - 2017 **

3,4 dari 5 bintang!

Ketika kejenuhan melanda saat membaca buku utama akhirnya saya beralih untuk membaca buku ringan yang membuat saya tertawa dalam hati. Drama anak-anak perempuan sekolah di St. Clare mengingatkan saya ketika saya bersekolah di jaman SMA. senang rasanya melihat ketika mereka semua bersekolah tanpa adanya rasa beban. 😂😂

Sekali lagi buku Enid Blyton ini berhasil membuat saya terhibur dengan caranya sendiri. Kisahnya juga berkembang tidak hanya tentang Pat dan Isabel tetapi teman2 barunya yang memiliki tingkah laku yang lucu dan unik 😉

Terimakasih Scoop Premium!

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dropped to 2*'s. Repetitive. Same as the first two books. No character changes at all. A spiteful person who gets their comeuppance in each book. The headmistress discussing with one pupil what should happen to another pupil was the last straw for me! Or was that in the last book? Who knows? All stories the same.

[Ipeh Alena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sekarang, si Kembar mendapat kawan baru. Dari seorang pengadu, kemudian gadis yang usilnya sama seperti Janet sampai seorang gadis kaya raya yang modis. Tentunya, Alison kemudian menjadi terlalu dekat dengan Sadie si gadis modis tersebut. Dan Janet serta Bobby bekerjasama dalam hal keisengan yang luar biasa! Sampai Prudence yang beraksi demi mencari muka.

Sungguh...buku yang bisa bikin ketawa, kesal dan sebal sampai senang sekaligus.

[B]

I 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. ❤️

[Estrella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los leí en su día de niña y ha sido una delicia reencontrarme con las mellizas O'Sullivan. En 2020 releí las Torres de Mallory. Este año le ha tocado a esta saga.
Cómo disfrutaba de las historia de internados

[audy ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setelah membaca lanjutan seri buku ini ada satu yang jadi pertanyaan saya, apa anak-anak inggris di era tersebut memang selalu jahil ke gurunya? Kok berani sekali yah :')

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww nostalgia indeed

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Na minha opinião este é um dos livros mais emocionantes da coleção. A escritora escreve duma maneira que nos faz parecer que estamos dentro da história.

[haraka (tinybooknest) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I enjoy my time reading this one but I think the previous one is better than this one. I understand the story is more about the St.Clare where the twins study but I found this one is focusing too much on a couple of new characters instead of focus on how the girls interact and develop their characters in St Claire. And we don't see much of the twin's story in here which I'm little disappointed with.

But it's still a good MG book especially for the younger reader to learn about basic value in life. I definitely will continue with this series.

[Williesun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this instalment from the St. Clare's series as much. First of all, there wasn't enough Pat and Isabel in it for my liking. Maybe it' because I don't particularly remember the stories from my childhood and also the German title ingrained in my brain (Hanni and Nanni) makes me believe it should be more about the twins.

Instead, we spent most of the summer term, again, learning about the new girls in the form which is okay and necessary but Prudence is and awful character and Sadie doesn't add much to anything. I liked Carlotta and was pleasantly surprised that her circus only endeared her more to the other girls.

Meanwhile Prudence was a real ugly character and there was nothing redeeming about her at all. I prefer the characters, like Bobby, who are bold but honest an stand up. They may make mistakes but aren't above learning to better themselves. Sometimes, they need a push or shove in the right direction but they then make it to the end on their own.

I also missed Lucy and Margery. I really liked Margery last term and was a bit sad to see her go up and leave the first form though of course it was good for her.

One thing I do not understand is why Pam isn't going up into second form despite her good schoolwork. She stays in first form? So she will learn everything again? It confuses me.

Also, there wasn't going on my beyond the bullying from Prudence and some 'secret' revealing and trick playing. I missed the fun times between all the girls.

There was one thing that rubbed me a bit the wrong way, when Carlotta is told to be more like the others. I don't particularly like that these girls are all supposed to be so alike. Maybe I took it the wrong way but it just stuck out at me as something odd.

All in all, this was my least favourite from the first form books.

[Emma Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read school stories because, as a rule, the authors encourage girls to strive for themselves and be very active in different things (school clubs, sports, etc). The problem with this book, which wasn't so prevalent in the first one, is that the plot doesn't revolve around a mystery, or who's going to a win a competition, or whether a pupil's piece is good enough for the school's journal. Each chapter has a new prank played on one of the teachers and there's a lot of bullying going on - in one scene, one of the girls almost drowns and at first she's teased solely because she's a good student. I really abbhor this kind of attitude and it seems Enid Blyton encouraged it, often having one of the teachers comment on a good student that she 'should laugh more'. To each their own, Enid, to each their own. Some students like studying and the sort of pranks your characters play don't appeal to everyone. Also, my primary reason for adoring boarding school stories in particular is that a lot can happen outside of class - sadly, nothing much happens here until the end, which is a real shame as I think girls living together is an ideal way for friendships to blossom in unusual circumstances. I missed the description of tuck boxes and food in this too, there weren't that many. This was a frustrating book but I loved the setting too much to give it less than three stars.

[Hani Mahdiyanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si Kembar terlambat balik ke St.Claire gara-gara sakit. Begitu datang, ternyata ada banyak murid baru. Ada Sadie si pesolek, Carlotta yang setengah Spanyol, Prudence yang sok suci, Pamela yang termuda, si jenius, Bobby si tomboy dan cuek..

Buku ini lebih menyenangkan dan seru daripada buku sebelumnya. Karakter-karakternya makin berkembang. Kocak banget baca tingkahnya Carlotta yang blak-blakan tapi misterius (nah loh!), nggak suka banget sama Prudence yang suka nyari-nyari kesalahan Carlotta cuman karena dia nggak suka sama Carlotta. Agak nggak suka juga sama Pamela yang nggak bisa ngomong terus terang waktu tahu tingkah temennya nggak bener, tapi bisa jadi karena dia termuda jadi agak segan sama yang lebih tua sih. Pokoknya khas anak sekolahan asrama banget! Tapi asramanya di kota besar, sampai Sadie yang anak artis dan pesolek banget bisa diculik!

Si Kembar dan teman-teman yang di buku sebelumnya juga ikut pertandingan lhoh! Yah, pengen baca lanjutannya, tapi blum punya.. >.< (padahal yang ke 5 udah punya.. tapi blum baca yang pertama.. wkwkwk)

[Limau Nipis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aah, after three books that Enid Blyton decided to conclude the first former series. I am fond of the twins, Pat and Isabel, but the focus has somehow shifted to their circles of friends.

I love the addition of new characters and particularly love Bobby and Carlotta. As for Prudence, I shuddered on why she is so sneaky and keep telling tales. Yes, I know that not all the girls are good, but some characters were painted as so sneaky that I feel uncomfortable reading about Prudence's mischief.

Well, I am going to continue reading the 4th book and try to remember why I enjoyed the series so much in my younger days!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introducing don't-care-Bobby and Carlotta! And Sadie, for Alison to fawn over. I didn't own this one growing up, only bought it fairly recently to complete my collection. I'm not sure if I never bought it because it wasn't a favourite, or it wasn't a favourite because I didn't have it to read over and over! The whole kidnapping subplot just never did it for me though. I prefer boarding school adventures when they're actually inside the school. ;)

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5, on my special Enid Blyton scale ;)
The bullying and the racial stereotypes in this book are hard to stomach, very similarly to Third Year at Malory Towers, but what else can you expect in an Enid Blyton school story, really? For the most part I'm able to set those aspects aside given these are a nostalgic reread from my childhood, and I can say that this does at least have a more tightly told arc than book 1 in the series (which I gave 3 stars) and a couple of fun new characters...

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite in the series so far