What do you think?
Rate this book
Malory Towers #8
Summer Term at Malory Towers
Book by Enid Blyton
208 pages, Paperback
Published May 4, 2009
77 people are currently reading
1267 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
156 books16 followersPlease don't merge with Enid_Blyton
This author profile has been created as Enid^^Blyton to form a collective profile for all commissioned works, by various authors, published under the author name of "Enid Blyton" but nor actually written by herself.
This author profile has been created as Enid^^Blyton to form a collective profile for all commissioned works, by various authors, published under the author name of "Enid Blyton" but nor actually written by herself.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
August 27, 2012
I really like these books. I usually read them before I go to bed and pretend I'm in a boarding school.
February 8, 2021
Now the second of Pamela Cox’ continuations of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers series has most certainly been a generally very much fun and diverting personal reading experience, with the focused on Malory Towers third formers (Felicity Rivers and her classmates) in Summer Term at Malory Towers enjoying their sports and games (such as swimming, tennis and even horseback riding) but also encountering quite a bit of excitement, mayhem, family squabbles to be rectified and mysteries to be solved (and with even the police needing to become involved).
But honestly, even though I have certainly found Pamela Cox’ narrative for Summer Term at Malory Towers both pleasant and engaging (and with regard to writing style and general attitudes very much and appreciatively in the spirit of Enid Blyton), and really did massively enjoy reading about Old Girls Bill and Clarissa experiencing all kinds of setbacks and mysterious acts of sabotage at their new and recently purchased riding school, and how Malory Towers students then both support Bill and Clarissa and also end up solving the mystery, unmasking the horrid villains who have been making both girls’ lives at their riding school a total living total hell (and yes, who also had kidnapped, had stolen Malory Towers student Julie’s beloved horse), sorry but in many ways (and even with my reading pleasure with regard to Pamela Cox’ text), Summer Term at Malory Towers is in my opinion really rather weak as a true and bona fide boarding school story, since well, so much of the action actually takes place outside of the school and also does not have all that much to do with Malory Towers as an institution, as a boarding school.
And indeed, this is definitely not only the case with regard to Bill and Clarissa’s problems concerning their riding school and the sabotages they encounter, but even Esme and Lucy’s family dysfunction squabbles are, while definitely interesting, not really all that thematically tied to Malory Towers as a school, leaving Summer Term at Malory Towers a pleasant and fun read but still a trifle off topic so to speak with regards to typical boarding school plots.
But honestly, even though I have certainly found Pamela Cox’ narrative for Summer Term at Malory Towers both pleasant and engaging (and with regard to writing style and general attitudes very much and appreciatively in the spirit of Enid Blyton), and really did massively enjoy reading about Old Girls Bill and Clarissa experiencing all kinds of setbacks and mysterious acts of sabotage at their new and recently purchased riding school, and how Malory Towers students then both support Bill and Clarissa and also end up solving the mystery, unmasking the horrid villains who have been making both girls’ lives at their riding school a total living total hell (and yes, who also had kidnapped, had stolen Malory Towers student Julie’s beloved horse), sorry but in many ways (and even with my reading pleasure with regard to Pamela Cox’ text), Summer Term at Malory Towers is in my opinion really rather weak as a true and bona fide boarding school story, since well, so much of the action actually takes place outside of the school and also does not have all that much to do with Malory Towers as an institution, as a boarding school.
And indeed, this is definitely not only the case with regard to Bill and Clarissa’s problems concerning their riding school and the sabotages they encounter, but even Esme and Lucy’s family dysfunction squabbles are, while definitely interesting, not really all that thematically tied to Malory Towers as a school, leaving Summer Term at Malory Towers a pleasant and fun read but still a trifle off topic so to speak with regards to typical boarding school plots.
December 18, 2020
The third formers are back for another term! Felicity is still the head girl. This time, there are two new girls, Esme and Lucy. Lucy is horse-mad and becomes friends with the other horse-mad girl, Julie. But she also seems to have a feud going on with Esme, who turns out to be a long-lost cousin. The plot revolves around how the two new girls resolve their disputes and bring their families together.
Another plot that takes up many pages involves Bill and Clarissa, who now run a horse riding school nearby. Somebody is sabotaging their school and it is up to the third formers to find out who. June and Bonnie team up together to solve the problem and help the old Malory Towers girls. In the process, June learns about team spirit.
This was a very weak book, mostly because all the action is set outside of the school. The two main plots involve a lot of characters that have nothing to do with the third form. The mixing up of a mystery with actual villains in the school story results in the book losing its MT flavour. The book is also too long and drags in places. Also, I really thought Bill and Clarissa were really boring in the original series with their horses. The emphasis on horses in this book was also boring to me.
I did like the character development for some of the characters, which admittedly, Cox does better than Blyton. But overall, Summer Term at Malory Towers lacks the fun element because it does not focus on the school girls.
Another plot that takes up many pages involves Bill and Clarissa, who now run a horse riding school nearby. Somebody is sabotaging their school and it is up to the third formers to find out who. June and Bonnie team up together to solve the problem and help the old Malory Towers girls. In the process, June learns about team spirit.
This was a very weak book, mostly because all the action is set outside of the school. The two main plots involve a lot of characters that have nothing to do with the third form. The mixing up of a mystery with actual villains in the school story results in the book losing its MT flavour. The book is also too long and drags in places. Also, I really thought Bill and Clarissa were really boring in the original series with their horses. The emphasis on horses in this book was also boring to me.
I did like the character development for some of the characters, which admittedly, Cox does better than Blyton. But overall, Summer Term at Malory Towers lacks the fun element because it does not focus on the school girls.
September 5, 2014
The second of Pamela Cox's Malory Towers sequels is not quite as good as its predecessor, but is still a very enjoyable read, thanks to concentrating mostly on a thrilling horsey mystery over at Bill and Clarissa "no-honestly-we're-not-a-lesbian-couple"'s farm. New girls Lucy and Esme are a little bland, Lucy is just Julie with a bit of a temper and Esme is just Zerelda, all lipstick and curls and "wunnerful" attitude. Of the two, Esme fares the best, with her My Fair Lady style plot with Bonnie and Amy and her attempts to get on the tennis team while still being feminine. In the Malory Towers 'verse you're either feminine and therefore vain or sporty and therefore "too hearty for words". It's quite nice to finally see a character that's a bit of both. The tag-team of June and Bonnie as detectives also works really well; it's always nice when characters that don't normally hang out get a bit of time together. The scene where June and Nora trick Mam'zelle Dupont even made me laugh out loud, when will you LEARN Mam'zelle? The only thing that really bothered me was how out of character Miss Grayling was in expelling Eleanor Banks for her part in the horse robbery. Sure, Eleanor was a bit of a bitch but not only was she coerced by her uncle, Miss Grayling let Daphne stay on at the school after she stole all her classmates' money and jewellery! Seems a bit off. Still, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next term! Something awfully pi, I expect...
March 7, 2014
Written by Pamela Cox using the characters created by Enid Blyton. Not quite as good as the originals but lovely to have the extra stories
Read
November 27, 2020bill and clarissa are a couple you cannot change my mind
May 28, 2023
The new author managed to make it interesting again and it started to get really good!!!!
June 28, 2025
Iconic series
December 31, 2019
For me, Pamela Cox's Malory Towers is more interesting than the Blyton's ones. The tricks are well developed, and there is more to the school than just introducing new girls every term, they learning to cope up with the new life in a boarding and fitting in, and ending it all with a good moral lesson. Not to say, I appreciate them!
With the first Malory Towers by Cox, I didn't feel it right.. it seemed like the author was trying too hard in bringing the essence of the original series in the book. So much so, that character like Amy seemed a copy of a one from the Blyton's (forgot the name, excuse me), with her 'drawling American accent', and so does the description of Julie, which matches so much with Bill. Also, there's someone in the third term too, who prefers to be called by a boy's name— Freddie, just like Bill.
One last complaint of mine from Cox is that why in the world is nobody taking exams in Malory Towers. The storylines have drifted from studies to more of outdoor activities. We get only glimpses of classrooms only when the girls wish to trick their Mam'zelle Dupont. Why?!
With the first Malory Towers by Cox, I didn't feel it right.. it seemed like the author was trying too hard in bringing the essence of the original series in the book. So much so, that character like Amy seemed a copy of a one from the Blyton's (forgot the name, excuse me), with her 'drawling American accent', and so does the description of Julie, which matches so much with Bill. Also, there's someone in the third term too, who prefers to be called by a boy's name— Freddie, just like Bill.
One last complaint of mine from Cox is that why in the world is nobody taking exams in Malory Towers. The storylines have drifted from studies to more of outdoor activities. We get only glimpses of classrooms only when the girls wish to trick their Mam'zelle Dupont. Why?!
December 17, 2015
I don't get it. This felt to me like a long, tedious book in which virtually nothing happened. It was somewhat amusing how condescending the English schoolgirls were to the girl who had been corrupted by time in (gasp) America.
March 25, 2019
Again written by Pamela Cox, the girls return to Malory Towers and throw themselves back into work as well as summer sports. In particular, horse riding is a popular choice amongst the pupils. The local stables is owned by two former students Bill and Clarissa (characters in the first half of the series written by Enid Blyton). When it is made clear that someone doesn't want the stables to succeed, Felicity and her friends turn detective to work out who is behind the cruel acts of stealing and neglect. A fast-paced read with good characters and lots of fun!
September 7, 2025
just another lovely story, this one had some of the best character dev of the series yet
July 29, 2025
I Loved this.I ate this legit.I loved that this boook was sooooooooo addictive.I loved Esme and Lucy 's relationship.[ESPECCIALY Esme]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2022
The girls of Malory Towers return! We get all the usual elements found in the original series so some readers may recognize a sense of repetition. As usual, there is a new girl entering the term and there is some fuss about horses. Old characters like Bill and Clarrissa reappear, running a ranch nearby the school and encountering some sinister difficulties from a wolf in sheep's clothing.
In this book, we are introduced to a new girl named Esme who was raised in America. She has some beef with another new girl named Lucy. Lucy is the new horse enthusiast of the story and she becomes Julie's special friend (both girls are horse girls). Esme and Lucy are cousins but their fathers have clashed before, souring things between the 2 girls. The book focuses mostly on them trying to repair their family bond and overcoming their ill feelings.
Pamela Cox continues the tradition of the "American exchange student" which Enid Blyton pioneered in her original series. In Enid's original Malory Towers and St Clare's books, there would always be a student from America who comes to Malory Towers and gets introduced to the sensible, respectable life of an English schoolgirl. However, I deducted some stars because of Esme's hokey American accent. Her trademark word is saying "gee" all the time and this was very annoying. Americans don't talk like that. I counted 10 gees in one page and that's excessive.
Points were also deducted for the overall holier-than-thou message of some characters who demonized makeup on Esme, saying that it is "unbecoming" and "ugly". I also didn't really like how they wanted to change Esme and transform her into an English Rose ala the ugly duckling makeover because she was already unique the way she was. The message that English girls are so much more worthy and have natural beauty because they don't wear makeup is a rather annoying aspect. But I'm glad that Esme stood up for her own individuality at the end. Still, the book pushes the idea of demonizing makeup on school girls which is in itself a more complex and nuanced topic that cannot be just summarized into "makeup bad! Natural beauty good!"
The book also shows how some girly girls can play tennis and still maintain their femininity such as Esme. But I found Amy and Bonnie to be quite annoying because they kept looking down at girls who were more masculine and sporty than they were. I acknowledge that these 2 girls are written as the morally gray and sneaky characters though. Hence, we are probably not supposed to like them much.
The horse thief side plot was well executed but I felt that the antagonist of this story was a little predictable. I think it would be more satisfying if the ice queen bad girl was more subtle and we did not know about her true intentions at the end. My first impression of her was that she would definitely be the villain at the end and I was right.
Still, it was an entertaining read and a commendable effort from Pamela Cox. If Esme's accent did not annoy me so much, this would have been a 4 star read.
In this book, we are introduced to a new girl named Esme who was raised in America. She has some beef with another new girl named Lucy. Lucy is the new horse enthusiast of the story and she becomes Julie's special friend (both girls are horse girls). Esme and Lucy are cousins but their fathers have clashed before, souring things between the 2 girls. The book focuses mostly on them trying to repair their family bond and overcoming their ill feelings.
Pamela Cox continues the tradition of the "American exchange student" which Enid Blyton pioneered in her original series. In Enid's original Malory Towers and St Clare's books, there would always be a student from America who comes to Malory Towers and gets introduced to the sensible, respectable life of an English schoolgirl. However, I deducted some stars because of Esme's hokey American accent. Her trademark word is saying "gee" all the time and this was very annoying. Americans don't talk like that. I counted 10 gees in one page and that's excessive.
Points were also deducted for the overall holier-than-thou message of some characters who demonized makeup on Esme, saying that it is "unbecoming" and "ugly". I also didn't really like how they wanted to change Esme and transform her into an English Rose ala the ugly duckling makeover because she was already unique the way she was. The message that English girls are so much more worthy and have natural beauty because they don't wear makeup is a rather annoying aspect. But I'm glad that Esme stood up for her own individuality at the end. Still, the book pushes the idea of demonizing makeup on school girls which is in itself a more complex and nuanced topic that cannot be just summarized into "makeup bad! Natural beauty good!"
The book also shows how some girly girls can play tennis and still maintain their femininity such as Esme. But I found Amy and Bonnie to be quite annoying because they kept looking down at girls who were more masculine and sporty than they were. I acknowledge that these 2 girls are written as the morally gray and sneaky characters though. Hence, we are probably not supposed to like them much.
The horse thief side plot was well executed but I felt that the antagonist of this story was a little predictable. I think it would be more satisfying if the ice queen bad girl was more subtle and we did not know about her true intentions at the end. My first impression of her was that she would definitely be the villain at the end and I was right.
Still, it was an entertaining read and a commendable effort from Pamela Cox. If Esme's accent did not annoy me so much, this would have been a 4 star read.
December 12, 2020
So, firstly, before anything I must say I am glad to have Pamela Cox, for I ABSOLUTELY adore Malory Towers and I am indeed, grateful to have more books to the series.
That being said, I enjoyed the Felicity part / the latter 6 parts of the books too, but somehow it felt repetitive.
The characters and plot got a bit repetitive. I don't want to give any spoilers for my review is more of a collective review on Felicity series, that is all books by Pamela.
But with Bill and Clarissa being horse lovers and then Lucy and Julie being almost the same ones, I feel Pamela did not put her own element into the series.
I would have liked some unpredictability to the series, say if Freddie or Nora is announced to be the head girl. A school like Malory Towers that is supposed to bring out the best in you, why does it always choose students who are already responsible and well developed as authoritative figures?
One character I throughly enjoyed reading was Bonnie. I think Pamela has done an excellent job of framing the dainty little girl, who has more to her than what it seems at first glance.
In a nutshell, the concept pioneered by Enid Blyton was well maintained and Malory Towers will always remain a comfort read, no doubt about it, but what I would have loved was to see Pamela putting her unique touch to the plot and characters.
That being said, I enjoyed the Felicity part / the latter 6 parts of the books too, but somehow it felt repetitive.
The characters and plot got a bit repetitive. I don't want to give any spoilers for my review is more of a collective review on Felicity series, that is all books by Pamela.
But with Bill and Clarissa being horse lovers and then Lucy and Julie being almost the same ones, I feel Pamela did not put her own element into the series.
I would have liked some unpredictability to the series, say if Freddie or Nora is announced to be the head girl. A school like Malory Towers that is supposed to bring out the best in you, why does it always choose students who are already responsible and well developed as authoritative figures?
One character I throughly enjoyed reading was Bonnie. I think Pamela has done an excellent job of framing the dainty little girl, who has more to her than what it seems at first glance.
In a nutshell, the concept pioneered by Enid Blyton was well maintained and Malory Towers will always remain a comfort read, no doubt about it, but what I would have loved was to see Pamela putting her unique touch to the plot and characters.
February 26, 2019
Continuing with my rereads of the newer MT books now, and this is one of my favourites from the ones that focus on the rest of Felicity's time at the school. I always love the ones set in around the summer terms, because I feel like there's more that can happen- longer days, more sports, picnics, ect. :)
It was so good to have Bill and Clarissa back! They were two of my favourites from the original series (I'm not a rider, but love horses anyway) and the mysteries surrounding their stables business. I found that Pamela Cox had written in some of the same stereotypes of Esme as an American girl that Enid Blyton wrote into the series when she introduced readers to Zerelda, back in Darrell's day. But this time, there was an actual fleshed out backstory and the situation was different, which made it all feel more real. But overall, another great addition to the Malory Towers series!
It was so good to have Bill and Clarissa back! They were two of my favourites from the original series (I'm not a rider, but love horses anyway) and the mysteries surrounding their stables business. I found that Pamela Cox had written in some of the same stereotypes of Esme as an American girl that Enid Blyton wrote into the series when she introduced readers to Zerelda, back in Darrell's day. But this time, there was an actual fleshed out backstory and the situation was different, which made it all feel more real. But overall, another great addition to the Malory Towers series!
May 5, 2019
Well, Pamela Cox has found her Enid Blyton shoes! I am delighted to say...
Little bit of everything but with a bit less " priss " - just thought she was trying too hard with her first foray.
Tennis, Swimming, Horse Adventures and Family feuds and a sneaky reference to the original FIRST TERM AT MALORY TOWERS.
All in all a spiffingly good transport back to more innocent times.
I will pick something else up before " snow diving " ( Lol ) into WINTER TERM AT MALORY TOWERS.
Little bit of everything but with a bit less " priss " - just thought she was trying too hard with her first foray.
Tennis, Swimming, Horse Adventures and Family feuds and a sneaky reference to the original FIRST TERM AT MALORY TOWERS.
All in all a spiffingly good transport back to more innocent times.
I will pick something else up before " snow diving " ( Lol ) into WINTER TERM AT MALORY TOWERS.
April 5, 2017
This book was my favourite as it is about a really mean kid who steals a horse of a really good girl in a girl's school.
May 7, 2020
And enjoyable little story with a good moral, but unfortunately with mystery that is a bit below par, and is quite predictable. Nevertheless, not bad work from Pamela Cox.
February 22, 2022
It was a good story line but the characters personality is exactly the same as the older characters.
October 31, 2021
I think I only read these books to cling to the familiarity of the world of Malory Towers. And Pamela Cox just about manages to sustain that world with her writing, while slightly making it her own. Although, her main way of reminding us these books are supposed to be set in the 1940s/50s is by having the girls call each other 'old girl' in every other sentence. Something I don't recall Blyton doing frequently, if at all. Cox also seems to want to raise the stakes with her versions, with this book including some very serious incidents at Bill and Clarissa's stables. While I appreciate her maintaining the level of intrigue and mystery that Blyton brought to her books, I feel she doesn't need to go that extreme with a book about schoolgirls.
Despite all of this, I will of course keep reading the series because they are fun and easy reads. And Malory Towers will always be a source of comfort for me.
Despite all of this, I will of course keep reading the series because they are fun and easy reads. And Malory Towers will always be a source of comfort for me.
Read
February 9, 2025Do you think that this book is childish by seeing the cover and the first few pages then you people are one of those people who judges books by its cover. This whole series is of tricks, enjoyment, and also some values that everyone SHOULD learn in their life and make it out. This book makes u think that u are a student of malory towers itself. Take this book once and i bet that u would never ever keep it again till u finish the series. But there are some places in this book which goes slow but it does not make the book boring at all that is the secret of enid blyton. I request YOU ALL to read at least the first book. I am telling to read the first book only becuz after u finish reading that u would be tempted to read the second book and off it goes till the last book of this series there u will see yourself finishing the whole series of the wonderful and mind blowing series of MALORY TOWERS!!!!!!
December 6, 2022
Another very nice Malory Towers continuation novel, true to the style and spirit of Enid Blyton's books. This follows the usual formula, but I'm not going to hold that against it since Blyton's books are formulaic to begin with.
New girl Esme was a bit too similar to Zerelda. Perhaps we are running into the limitations of the boarding school tropes; after a good number of books the writer starts to repeat herself. Esme's family feud with Lucy and the vandalism, horse stealing plot in Bill and Clarissa's stable were a bit slow in the beginning, but they did get more interesting.
I still appreciate how in these Pamela Cox continuation novels the characters are a bit more nuanced than in Blyton's Malory Towers books. Characters who with Blyton would be antagonists here usually have more going for them.
New girl Esme was a bit too similar to Zerelda. Perhaps we are running into the limitations of the boarding school tropes; after a good number of books the writer starts to repeat herself. Esme's family feud with Lucy and the vandalism, horse stealing plot in Bill and Clarissa's stable were a bit slow in the beginning, but they did get more interesting.
I still appreciate how in these Pamela Cox continuation novels the characters are a bit more nuanced than in Blyton's Malory Towers books. Characters who with Blyton would be antagonists here usually have more going for them.
October 12, 2018
As a kid i used to read Enid Blyton alot. And started again, because you will not find it as a story about just one girl or one boy but entire involvement of all the characters. Light read. No high dramas. And perfect for children who are into reading.
I chose it at my mid twenties to read because sometimes it's okay to feel back to school, feel nostalgic and read books just for the sake of reading and enjoying at the same time.
At few places I found story too stretched but of course, it's my perspective, a perspective of a mid twenties women. But it was enjoyable. I recommend this to children who are into reading and adults who want to read light hearted book.
I chose it at my mid twenties to read because sometimes it's okay to feel back to school, feel nostalgic and read books just for the sake of reading and enjoying at the same time.
At few places I found story too stretched but of course, it's my perspective, a perspective of a mid twenties women. But it was enjoyable. I recommend this to children who are into reading and adults who want to read light hearted book.
April 26, 2021
Another great book of the Malory Towers series. The girls are up to playing tricks on their teachers again. This time they pretend there is invisible writing on the board. An American girl starts at Malory Towers who happens to be one of the other girl's cousin. They don't get on but they keep this to themselves until the truth is revealed. Their father's fell out and it became awkward in the family so they decided to keep their distance. But it doesn't take long until they get along. But there is still trouble at Malory Towers, June injures herself so she is worried about being able to take part in the tennis tournament and missing out on going to picnics with the other girls.
November 26, 2022
Superb! What i like about this new series, is that first of all, there seems to be more cohesion altogether; characters that come and go are not vanished or forgotten. Also, the girls seem to be better friends to each other: in the previous series, it felt as if they were always divided in pairs or threesomes, while here they do feel more like a class, a group of friends, even if they each have their own best friends. And they are not mean to each other or to the "villain" of each story!
This was a nice adventure, and i loved to see what Bill and Clarissa had been up to 😊
This was a nice adventure, and i loved to see what Bill and Clarissa had been up to 😊
January 10, 2024
I've been reading these books non-stop and while they're a relic of the time, I'm getting bored of the repetion of plot, characters and social norms of the time period. There's nothing wrong with it, but I'll be glad whrn I'm done. I want to give the book 4 stars for the writer's skill in contining the "feel" of Enid Blyton's writing style, and feel of the period, but I'm just plain bored, sorry - and I can't say I'd feel any different if I took a break for a month or two. I realise I'm just too old for these books now. Ah well.
My book is part of a box set which means it's got a different cover and was printed in 2019.
My book is part of a box set which means it's got a different cover and was printed in 2019.
January 25, 2020
I loved this book. I thought the plot was interesting, the characters were amazing and the language was great. There were a few anachronisms, but I didn't really notice them until other people pointed them out.
I've marked it down a point for how anti-American it is. I didn't really mind so much with the original series because that was how a lot of people thought at the time that it was written, but this was written this century. I thought that it was unnecessary.
I've marked it down a point for how anti-American it is. I didn't really mind so much with the original series because that was how a lot of people thought at the time that it was written, but this was written this century. I thought that it was unnecessary.
February 21, 2022
This is the best of the handful of Pamela Cox continuations of the St Clare's and Malory Towers series that I have read so far. It actually has a completely new plot, character growth from a main character and not one of the endless series of girls who appear for one term only, features some sporting moments, and we get to see Bill and Clarissa of the old books (though I'm not sure why they're still "girls" and not "women"). Still lacks a touch of the Blyton charm but I'll take it.
June 7, 2025
I’m not sure that kidnapping horses, using arson as a distraction and intentionally 1/2 cutting reins so that the girl breaks her arm are suitable topics for this book. Or that they fall in place with any of the previous books, I felt that Pamela cox did an okay job of taking over initially but this one was dreadful- way too unrealistic and most of the book was not even set in Malory towers. A long way away from hiding spiders in desks and stealing a girl’s favourite pen
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews