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St. Clare's #9
Catarina no Colégio de Santa Clara
Based upon, and continuing Enid Blyton's St. Clare's series. There's a new girl at St Clare's - and she has a pet goat! Kitty Flaherty is joining the third form, along with McGinty the goat. Thanks to Kitty's infectious laugh and McGinty's talent for eating everything, the girls know that this term is going to be full of fun.... but it's also full of upset. Pat misses the first few weeks, thanks to a broken arm, and another new girl, Amanda, seizes the opportunity to become Isabel's new best friend and becomes resentful of Pat. She sets about to split the twins up... and if that's not enough, there's also a rivalry with the second formers and the actions of the cold Margaret Winters, deputy head girl, to contend with.
186 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2011
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678 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Cox
36 books64 followersAfter Enid Blyton's death, author Pamela Cox was asked to continue two of the author's series, St. Clare's and Malory Towers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 10, 2021
Well, with regard to Kitty at St. Clare's (which is yet another of Pamela Cox's continuations of Enid Blyton's St. Clare's English boarding school stories and features the second term of the third form, but this time with Janet Robbins instead of Carlotta Brown as head girl), I actually really and truly wish that this novel, that Kitty at St. Clare's had never been written, had never been published.
For honestly, the entire premise of and the presence in Kitty at St. Clare's of oh so very much stereotypically Irish student Kitty Flaherty (with her flamingly red hair, with her temper, with her pet goat McGinty and in particular with her almost parodistic and massively stereotypical Irish parlance) has felt both majorly uncomfortable and draggingly monotonous (as well as not feeling as though I am really even reading an actual and bona fide British school story anymore, as Kitty and McGinty and even with the book title being all about Kitty, just not really fitting in all that well and totally seeming like the pair have just been tacked on so to speak).
And furthermore, I also do have to wonder why author Pamela Cox is not only being so massively stereotypical towards the Irish in Kitty at St. Clare's but why in many ways Cox is actually even considerably more and increasingly clichéd and banal than (at least in my humble opinion) Enid Blyton has ever been in any of her St. Clare's texts (as yes, compared to how Kitty Flaherty is portrayed in Kitty at St. Clare's, Enid Blyton's stereotypical depictions of say French teachers and American students is actually rather mild and inoffensive, since albeit that Kitty is certainly depicted as a positive but mischievous character by Pamela Cox, there is also and nevertheless a constant vein of intense condescension present and featured and that yes indeed, I also do think we are supposed to be rather ridiculing Kitty Flaherty's Irish vernacular mode of speech).
Now while other parts of Kitty at St. Clare's might well be sufficiently readable and present a decent enough continuation to and for Enid Blyton's St. Clare's novels (even though I still do very much believe that Pamela Cox has not really and totally ever captured the true essence and spirit of Enid Blyton's school stories by any stretch of the imagination), sorry, but Kitty Flaherty (and her pet goat) have actually and in fact totally and utterly ruined Kitty at St. Clare's for me (and yes to the extent that I was while reading often very sorely tempted to cast Kitty at St. Clare's aside and to consider it a "did not finish" book).
For honestly, the entire premise of and the presence in Kitty at St. Clare's of oh so very much stereotypically Irish student Kitty Flaherty (with her flamingly red hair, with her temper, with her pet goat McGinty and in particular with her almost parodistic and massively stereotypical Irish parlance) has felt both majorly uncomfortable and draggingly monotonous (as well as not feeling as though I am really even reading an actual and bona fide British school story anymore, as Kitty and McGinty and even with the book title being all about Kitty, just not really fitting in all that well and totally seeming like the pair have just been tacked on so to speak).
And furthermore, I also do have to wonder why author Pamela Cox is not only being so massively stereotypical towards the Irish in Kitty at St. Clare's but why in many ways Cox is actually even considerably more and increasingly clichéd and banal than (at least in my humble opinion) Enid Blyton has ever been in any of her St. Clare's texts (as yes, compared to how Kitty Flaherty is portrayed in Kitty at St. Clare's, Enid Blyton's stereotypical depictions of say French teachers and American students is actually rather mild and inoffensive, since albeit that Kitty is certainly depicted as a positive but mischievous character by Pamela Cox, there is also and nevertheless a constant vein of intense condescension present and featured and that yes indeed, I also do think we are supposed to be rather ridiculing Kitty Flaherty's Irish vernacular mode of speech).
Now while other parts of Kitty at St. Clare's might well be sufficiently readable and present a decent enough continuation to and for Enid Blyton's St. Clare's novels (even though I still do very much believe that Pamela Cox has not really and totally ever captured the true essence and spirit of Enid Blyton's school stories by any stretch of the imagination), sorry, but Kitty Flaherty (and her pet goat) have actually and in fact totally and utterly ruined Kitty at St. Clare's for me (and yes to the extent that I was while reading often very sorely tempted to cast Kitty at St. Clare's aside and to consider it a "did not finish" book).
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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. ❤️
March 30, 2015
Holy Irish stereotypes, Batman! Kitty is a new girl at St Clare's when Janet, Isabel et al are in the third form, and naturally she causes havoc in her very Oirish way. She has a goat and everything. Really, to be sure.
I was somewhat taken aback at Pamela Cox's/Egmont's writing and editing of a book like this in the twenty-first century. Kitty sures and begorrahs her way throughout the book, is totes 'madcap', calls mistresses 'Mam' and uses a form of Irish English that no-one in Ireland has used for at least a century - unless there is a hidden tribe somewhere in the hills of Donegal that has never heard of TV, E numbers or Daniel O'Donnell:
On hearing Pat and Isabel's surname is O'Sullivan: 'Would you be after having a bit of the Irish in you?'
On being asked if she'd listened to the mistress in class: 'I have and all, Mam...Sure me eyes might be out there in the garden, but me ears are in here all right.' (Just typing that gave me hives.)
On an upper former the third form dislikes: 'Sure and that one needs taken down a peg or two.' (Which is even worse, because 'taken down a peg or two' is a phrase that childish Irish me, growing up apparent decades away from Kitty's mythical and ancient Oirish community, never used and never heard of apart from in English novels.)
And yet! As Kitty's actions become more central to the plot, she suddenly drops the Irish way of phrase and her speech becomes more standard. So even the stereotype is inconsistent. *hives*
I realise the books are set in a vague time period probably best categorised as 'after the war', but really. Would a Chinese girl arriving at St Clare's in a book published in 2012 be written in the same stereotypical way? I'd love to see the headlines and the court case if so, so I would to be sure to be sure.
No doubt people who use terms like 'the professionally offended', 'political correctness gorn mad' or 'Jeremy Clarkson? He's all right, him', will point out that Kitty is a likeable and popular character, and so surely her portrayal is totes fine. (Like when an ad campaign is massively misogynistic and people say it's obviously OK because it was a woman wot done it. Pamela Cox will probably turn out to be half Irish or something.) But it still doesn't change the fact this book is mind boggingly stereotypical - and did I mention it was published in 2012? Even Enid wasn't as bad as this with the French.
It's also pretty poor plotwise: once again Pamela Cox does the 'evil upper former making nefarious plans to scupper the lower forms' story; even though, personality orders and immediate psychiatric intervention aside, this would never happen to this extreme in any school, anywhere, even in Blyton. But I'd be interested to know who edited this one, as it lacks the appalling and unnatural dialogue that plagues the Pamela Cox Malory Towers books: it's really hard to believe that with all the Blyton fans/good writers out there, Egmont really can't find anyone to write or edit the Malory Towers books a bit better.
(I've just realised it's pretty clear Egmont must be using the 'Pamela Cox' name as a brand and the books in both series are written by different authors, much like the Billy Bunter and Magnet stories were written first by Frank Richards/Charles Hamilton and then by ghostwriters under the Frank/Hilda Richard names. Dialogue can't be generally OK as in this book [hidjus Irish stereotypes notwithstanding] and utterly second form creative writing as it is in the Malory Towers books. I am prepared to be proved wrong, like Orwell in his essay about British school stories. But I think we should be told.)
Also. No doubt people who use terms like 'the professionally offended', 'political correctness gorn mad' or 'Jeremy Clarkson? He's all right, him', will point out this is a children's book. And that there are shocking things going on in Syria. And that I have too much time on my hands if I'm actually writing this review. They'd be right on all three counts. And I'm not mortally offended by the portrayal of Kitty here.
But I find it odd. Or, as Kitty would say, Well to be sure and it's strange and all I did find it now, writing like that in this day and age begorrah.
Really, Egmont? To be sure, really?
I was somewhat taken aback at Pamela Cox's/Egmont's writing and editing of a book like this in the twenty-first century. Kitty sures and begorrahs her way throughout the book, is totes 'madcap', calls mistresses 'Mam' and uses a form of Irish English that no-one in Ireland has used for at least a century - unless there is a hidden tribe somewhere in the hills of Donegal that has never heard of TV, E numbers or Daniel O'Donnell:
On hearing Pat and Isabel's surname is O'Sullivan: 'Would you be after having a bit of the Irish in you?'
On being asked if she'd listened to the mistress in class: 'I have and all, Mam...Sure me eyes might be out there in the garden, but me ears are in here all right.' (Just typing that gave me hives.)
On an upper former the third form dislikes: 'Sure and that one needs taken down a peg or two.' (Which is even worse, because 'taken down a peg or two' is a phrase that childish Irish me, growing up apparent decades away from Kitty's mythical and ancient Oirish community, never used and never heard of apart from in English novels.)
And yet! As Kitty's actions become more central to the plot, she suddenly drops the Irish way of phrase and her speech becomes more standard. So even the stereotype is inconsistent. *hives*
I realise the books are set in a vague time period probably best categorised as 'after the war', but really. Would a Chinese girl arriving at St Clare's in a book published in 2012 be written in the same stereotypical way? I'd love to see the headlines and the court case if so, so I would to be sure to be sure.
No doubt people who use terms like 'the professionally offended', 'political correctness gorn mad' or 'Jeremy Clarkson? He's all right, him', will point out that Kitty is a likeable and popular character, and so surely her portrayal is totes fine. (Like when an ad campaign is massively misogynistic and people say it's obviously OK because it was a woman wot done it. Pamela Cox will probably turn out to be half Irish or something.) But it still doesn't change the fact this book is mind boggingly stereotypical - and did I mention it was published in 2012? Even Enid wasn't as bad as this with the French.
It's also pretty poor plotwise: once again Pamela Cox does the 'evil upper former making nefarious plans to scupper the lower forms' story; even though, personality orders and immediate psychiatric intervention aside, this would never happen to this extreme in any school, anywhere, even in Blyton. But I'd be interested to know who edited this one, as it lacks the appalling and unnatural dialogue that plagues the Pamela Cox Malory Towers books: it's really hard to believe that with all the Blyton fans/good writers out there, Egmont really can't find anyone to write or edit the Malory Towers books a bit better.
(I've just realised it's pretty clear Egmont must be using the 'Pamela Cox' name as a brand and the books in both series are written by different authors, much like the Billy Bunter and Magnet stories were written first by Frank Richards/Charles Hamilton and then by ghostwriters under the Frank/Hilda Richard names. Dialogue can't be generally OK as in this book [hidjus Irish stereotypes notwithstanding] and utterly second form creative writing as it is in the Malory Towers books. I am prepared to be proved wrong, like Orwell in his essay about British school stories. But I think we should be told.)
Also. No doubt people who use terms like 'the professionally offended', 'political correctness gorn mad' or 'Jeremy Clarkson? He's all right, him', will point out this is a children's book. And that there are shocking things going on in Syria. And that I have too much time on my hands if I'm actually writing this review. They'd be right on all three counts. And I'm not mortally offended by the portrayal of Kitty here.
But I find it odd. Or, as Kitty would say, Well to be sure and it's strange and all I did find it now, writing like that in this day and age begorrah.
Really, Egmont? To be sure, really?
January 2, 2021
This is the worst book of the series. Another Pamela Cox concoction, Kitty at St. Clare's is the sixth book in the timeline of the series - the third form. Cox decides to abandon all the nice things Blyton could do and picked on the one thing that annoys me - stereotyping people based on their nationality. Such stereotyping and racism can be overlooked coming from an author writing in the 1940s in the midst of a raging war, but coming from an author who writes in 2008, it's simply unacceptable.
Kitty Flaherty from Kilblarney has bright red hair, says sure and begorrah and Mam ALL the time because that's how we know her to be Irish *eyeroll*, and her English is odd. I suppose she also lives on potatoes and gets roaring drunk on weekends. Oh, and perhaps she carries a tiny leprechaun in her pocket, which is why she gets away with shit? I mean, if you want to do stereotyping in 2008, why not just go all the way with it!
I disliked this book because I disliked Kitty. Her accents seemed fake and she was simply annoying in the way she was rude to everyone. She also had a stupid goat. Good grief, I'd rather have the endless talk of horses that Blyton used to annoy me with than this boring goat. The plot revolved completely around Kitty and a scheming head girl who was randomly doing evil things. Blyton's characters did bad things but Cox really doesn't stop to think, she simply gets carried away with the drama. Why would Miss Theobald, who has never made a error in judgement so far, give such power to a girl that she knows everyone hates? Why would this Margaret be so annoying without any reason? We have a villain without a cause here.
There is also some drama brewing between the second and third forms because they had to share a single common room as well as bedrooms. The second form rooms were apparently being renovated. Eh, why wouldn't this be done during the long summer holidays? Also, why would both dormitories AND common rooms be done at the same time. They are in different parts of the school. Such sloppy plotting!
The other story involves two sisters who hate each other. When Pat is late coming to school, one of the sisters befriends Isabel, which later leads to friction. This was more in tune with Blyton's style, and enjoyable to read. The rest of the book is just messy, annoying, and boring.
Kitty Flaherty from Kilblarney has bright red hair, says sure and begorrah and Mam ALL the time because that's how we know her to be Irish *eyeroll*, and her English is odd. I suppose she also lives on potatoes and gets roaring drunk on weekends. Oh, and perhaps she carries a tiny leprechaun in her pocket, which is why she gets away with shit? I mean, if you want to do stereotyping in 2008, why not just go all the way with it!
I disliked this book because I disliked Kitty. Her accents seemed fake and she was simply annoying in the way she was rude to everyone. She also had a stupid goat. Good grief, I'd rather have the endless talk of horses that Blyton used to annoy me with than this boring goat. The plot revolved completely around Kitty and a scheming head girl who was randomly doing evil things. Blyton's characters did bad things but Cox really doesn't stop to think, she simply gets carried away with the drama. Why would Miss Theobald, who has never made a error in judgement so far, give such power to a girl that she knows everyone hates? Why would this Margaret be so annoying without any reason? We have a villain without a cause here.
There is also some drama brewing between the second and third forms because they had to share a single common room as well as bedrooms. The second form rooms were apparently being renovated. Eh, why wouldn't this be done during the long summer holidays? Also, why would both dormitories AND common rooms be done at the same time. They are in different parts of the school. Such sloppy plotting!
The other story involves two sisters who hate each other. When Pat is late coming to school, one of the sisters befriends Isabel, which later leads to friction. This was more in tune with Blyton's style, and enjoyable to read. The rest of the book is just messy, annoying, and boring.
December 18, 2022
This was a superb book!!! I loved the little adventures, and the goat is such a funny addition! I enjoyed it very much
June 21, 2025
Another fabulous book for the St Clare's series. I can't remember if I've gotten this far in the series but these books are truly enjoyable and I can't wait for more
January 12, 2020
Kitty is from Ireland and has a mischievous behaviour all the time , when a row becomes between the second and third formers , Kitty’s tricks come to use .
When Amanda comes to St Clare’s she try’s to take Pat’s place with Isabel but ends up becoming friends with them and with her stepsister,Helen . When Jenifer gets excluded from being head girl , horrible Margaret who becomes head girl Kitty , the second and third formers try to get her expelled and succeed ( sort of) ! I think Blyton would have done better than Cox I like both but I think Blyton is better . I have nearly finished the full series only 1 and a bit to go !!
Try the book but you will soon find out that Blyton is better !!
When Amanda comes to St Clare’s she try’s to take Pat’s place with Isabel but ends up becoming friends with them and with her stepsister,Helen . When Jenifer gets excluded from being head girl , horrible Margaret who becomes head girl Kitty , the second and third formers try to get her expelled and succeed ( sort of) ! I think Blyton would have done better than Cox I like both but I think Blyton is better . I have nearly finished the full series only 1 and a bit to go !!
Try the book but you will soon find out that Blyton is better !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2014
In my opinion, this is the best of the St. Clares book written by Pamela Cox. Goodreads ratings however seem to suggest contrary to my personal ratings however. Somehow the feuds between forms did not seem characteristic of Enid Blyton's age, it did make an interesting read. Kitty is the most fun character among the ones created by Pamela Cox. However most of her characters lack depth and seem like mish mash of Enid Blyton's characters.
November 15, 2014
After reading the other two books that Pamela Cox wrote years ago for the St Clare's series, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this one. I am happy to report that Kitty at St Clare's is actually a very good book, it's funny and it does feel like a proper St Clare's book.
February 7, 2017
The characters I love don't seem like themselves. It's still fun to read an extension of it (kinda like reading any new book of HP, not because it is good) :p
October 30, 2023
The sixth book in internal chronology order, if we don't separate the Enid Blyton original novels from the continuation novels by Pamela Cox. I do not separate them, since I feel that Pamela Cox's are quite good and the respect the style and spirit of the originals. Therefore, I completely disagree with the Goodreads reviewers who believe that they are awful.
This one in particular I found very entertaining, mixing several dramatic storylines mostly based on relations between siblings: we have a temporary fallout between the O'Sullivan twins, caused by the intrigues of a new girl, and also the bad relationship between two stepsisters, also new girls. We also have the tensions between the third and second forms, who are forced to share a common room due to renovation works in the school. However, the main storyline is the tittle character, Kitty, another new girl with a sparkling personality, who gets involved in a long fight against a mean head girl. You could argue that she is a bit too much, and some readers may find her annoying, but I found her entertaining, so it worked for me. Also, she is a stereotypical Irish girl, which is something that really, really bothers some reviewers, but it's in line with the original's style, where there were similar stereotypes, like Carlotta, the fiery half-Spanish girl, or the usual image-obsessed American girls. I always prefer when the stereotypical character is used in a positive way, which is was happens with Carlotta or, in this case, with Kitty.
All in all, I thought the different storylines flowed well and the book was a good entry in the series.
This one in particular I found very entertaining, mixing several dramatic storylines mostly based on relations between siblings: we have a temporary fallout between the O'Sullivan twins, caused by the intrigues of a new girl, and also the bad relationship between two stepsisters, also new girls. We also have the tensions between the third and second forms, who are forced to share a common room due to renovation works in the school. However, the main storyline is the tittle character, Kitty, another new girl with a sparkling personality, who gets involved in a long fight against a mean head girl. You could argue that she is a bit too much, and some readers may find her annoying, but I found her entertaining, so it worked for me. Also, she is a stereotypical Irish girl, which is something that really, really bothers some reviewers, but it's in line with the original's style, where there were similar stereotypes, like Carlotta, the fiery half-Spanish girl, or the usual image-obsessed American girls. I always prefer when the stereotypical character is used in a positive way, which is was happens with Carlotta or, in this case, with Kitty.
All in all, I thought the different storylines flowed well and the book was a good entry in the series.
March 11, 2025
Pamela pls, doe op zn minst alsof je ooit een St. Clare boek gelezen hebt.
Dit was echt not it. Net als in de vorige was het taalgebruik soms een beetje raar, maar dat kan ik nog hebben. Het probleem is dat er ineens allemaal nieuwe dingen worden geïntroduceerd, en dat er dingen worden gezegd die gewoon niet kloppen??
Personages hebben ineens camera's, er is een dark room, en er worden slide shows gegeven op een podium. Er is NOG NOOIT electronica genoemd behalve een telefoon, dus waar komt dit in hemelsnaam vandaan??? Het was dermate noodzakelijk voor het plot dat ik het ook gewoon niet kon negeren, vet irritant.
Het grote probleem dit boek is dat de common room van de second form wordt gerenoveerd, dus ze moeten delen met de third form. Maar uit eerdere delen weten we dat de first en second form sowieso een gedeelde common room hebben. Waar zijn die first formers zijn???? Waar zijn zij???
Er zijn allemaal personages uit eerdere delen die nooit meer genoemd worden. Waar zijn Lucy en Marjorie, bijvoorbeeld? En hoezo blijven alle nieuwe personages maar 1 term??? Irritant.
Ik ga er ook slecht op dat Allison elk boek leert dat ze niet zo oppervlakkig moet zijn, en allemaal inzichten heeft, en in het volgende deel is ze dat weer volledig vergeten. Gun die girly character development!!!
Maar het absolute absolute dieptepunt is dat Margaret, de deputy head girl, violet eyes heeft. Pardon?? Dit is een Britse kostschool in de jaren '40, doe normaal.
Ja, nee, haha
Dit was echt not it. Net als in de vorige was het taalgebruik soms een beetje raar, maar dat kan ik nog hebben. Het probleem is dat er ineens allemaal nieuwe dingen worden geïntroduceerd, en dat er dingen worden gezegd die gewoon niet kloppen??
Personages hebben ineens camera's, er is een dark room, en er worden slide shows gegeven op een podium. Er is NOG NOOIT electronica genoemd behalve een telefoon, dus waar komt dit in hemelsnaam vandaan??? Het was dermate noodzakelijk voor het plot dat ik het ook gewoon niet kon negeren, vet irritant.
Het grote probleem dit boek is dat de common room van de second form wordt gerenoveerd, dus ze moeten delen met de third form. Maar uit eerdere delen weten we dat de first en second form sowieso een gedeelde common room hebben. Waar zijn die first formers zijn???? Waar zijn zij???
Er zijn allemaal personages uit eerdere delen die nooit meer genoemd worden. Waar zijn Lucy en Marjorie, bijvoorbeeld? En hoezo blijven alle nieuwe personages maar 1 term??? Irritant.
Ik ga er ook slecht op dat Allison elk boek leert dat ze niet zo oppervlakkig moet zijn, en allemaal inzichten heeft, en in het volgende deel is ze dat weer volledig vergeten. Gun die girly character development!!!
Maar het absolute absolute dieptepunt is dat Margaret, de deputy head girl, violet eyes heeft. Pardon?? Dit is een Britse kostschool in de jaren '40, doe normaal.
Ja, nee, haha
October 16, 2024
This book was not Enid Blyton at all, but still good.
p.s. pamela cox will be referred to as pc and enid blyton as eb for this review
Pc has a completely different style and perspective from that of eb and it seems as it is a pain for her to write times like that. I especially felt that during the ——spoiler warning—— slide show campaign of Mam’zelle where the projector comes in and it made it feel like completely off-Blyton.
Another fact is the stupid and annoying character of Kitty. Most girls love her as soon as she arrives as well as the teachers and that makes me feel as pc has never been to a proper school before. It was like Pinocchio but worse… I absolutely hated her character and the way she was ‘sure and’- i’ve heard irish people and they sure aren’t like that. That was just a bit of a stereotype on pc’s part.
The story unfolded very quickly and had a lot of main prospects like the Midnight Feast (which was stupid because it felt like there was too less of it and pc just wanted to stick it for some reason)
Pc did a great job by changing stupid Alison’s idolization to a 6th form girl and made her background stories unfold rather well.
The tricks were also very well- which makes me think that pc didn’t go to a strict school all but more the same.
Overall, this was a good book and l’m looking forward to read the next one.
3.70 ⭐️
p.s. pamela cox will be referred to as pc and enid blyton as eb for this review
Pc has a completely different style and perspective from that of eb and it seems as it is a pain for her to write times like that. I especially felt that during the ——spoiler warning—— slide show campaign of Mam’zelle where the projector comes in and it made it feel like completely off-Blyton.
Another fact is the stupid and annoying character of Kitty. Most girls love her as soon as she arrives as well as the teachers and that makes me feel as pc has never been to a proper school before. It was like Pinocchio but worse… I absolutely hated her character and the way she was ‘sure and’- i’ve heard irish people and they sure aren’t like that. That was just a bit of a stereotype on pc’s part.
The story unfolded very quickly and had a lot of main prospects like the Midnight Feast (which was stupid because it felt like there was too less of it and pc just wanted to stick it for some reason)
Pc did a great job by changing stupid Alison’s idolization to a 6th form girl and made her background stories unfold rather well.
The tricks were also very well- which makes me think that pc didn’t go to a strict school all but more the same.
Overall, this was a good book and l’m looking forward to read the next one.
3.70 ⭐️
November 17, 2025
I’ve never read this one before but I just found out that this was published as a continuation from second to third form. And honestly? I didn’t enjoy this one.
All of Alison’s development disappeared!! And everything was just one massive stereotype - it felt really clunky and bland. Kitty was just so massively stereotyped, as well as Mamzelle. Ugh. The drama was okay, but this too seemed way too modern compared to Enid’s books, and this completely lacked the poshness and elegance of the real St. Clare’s books.
ALSO! They just totally ignored the fact that Helen was a posh little shit and totally looked down on her stepsister. Like. That class tension was just swept under the rug for no reason and Amanda had to just suck it up. Like huh????
Meh. A skip. Glad I never bought it nor read it as a child.
All of Alison’s development disappeared!! And everything was just one massive stereotype - it felt really clunky and bland. Kitty was just so massively stereotyped, as well as Mamzelle. Ugh. The drama was okay, but this too seemed way too modern compared to Enid’s books, and this completely lacked the poshness and elegance of the real St. Clare’s books.
ALSO! They just totally ignored the fact that Helen was a posh little shit and totally looked down on her stepsister. Like. That class tension was just swept under the rug for no reason and Amanda had to just suck it up. Like huh????
Meh. A skip. Glad I never bought it nor read it as a child.
June 16, 2019
Since I'm reviewing all of these properly on this round of rereads- I love this addition of the series. As with the other books in the St Clare's series Pamela Cox wrote, they feel a bit more modern compared to the St Clare books Enid Blyton actually wrote, and the characters a bit more grown up than they're perhaps meant to be.
But it's still a really fun book, possibly my favourite of Pamela Cox's books (at least in this series; I still prefer her Malory Towers additional books). However, along with a few new students, continuing to fill in some of the details from the girls' time in the third form, this time we get to meet Irish student Kitty and her brilliant pet goat McGinty! They're such a fun, lovable pair! :)
But it's still a really fun book, possibly my favourite of Pamela Cox's books (at least in this series; I still prefer her Malory Towers additional books). However, along with a few new students, continuing to fill in some of the details from the girls' time in the third form, this time we get to meet Irish student Kitty and her brilliant pet goat McGinty! They're such a fun, lovable pair! :)
February 21, 2022
Basically a pre-Claudine Claudine-equivalent who appears for one term in the third form. She is Irish, in a very faith-and-begorrah stereotypical way, which isn't pleasant. I don't mind Cox's style overall but she doesn't really vary from the formula in any way...every book has a spiteful tattletale and the main thrust of each term is defeating that person. This book also gets a bit odd by mischaracterising Miss Theobald, the headmistress, who in some ways was always my favourite character - wise and unflappable. She makes some bad decisions in this book. Separately, I think Cox also misses a trick by not having a sports moment in each book. These books are utterly unmemorable but I'm going to read them all anyway.
April 23, 2023
This might be the best book of the series yet! Loved the new addition of the mischievous and funny Irish girl named Kitty and her quirky little pet goat who stirred up a lo of trouble for the snobby head girl. I thought the plot and conflict was well-written, especially the pranks played by the students on one another. Definitely one of the more memorable books of the series.
April 24, 2021
Typical high school stories, set in the British highlands, with stories of young girls that could span several generations without being outdated.
The sweet innocence, naughty mischief, and fun and frolic will always be quite dear to the heart.
The sweet innocence, naughty mischief, and fun and frolic will always be quite dear to the heart.
June 15, 2021
Pat comes to school late and sees her twin has a new best friend and is heartbroken. Soon tension starts building and new girl Kitty's pranks and tricks help the girls get through. Writing, plot, characters are good.
August 4, 2021
A marvelous re-read indeed, perhaps one of the strongest books in the St Clare's series! The delightful tricks and pranks, midnight feasts, complex friendship dynamics, and the presence of an incredibly charming goat and master make for a truly delightful boarding school novel!
April 17, 2022
An amusing light read! In my view, Pamela Cox does a very good job of carrying forth the spirit of Blyton's books, even down to the ridiculous stereotyping of characters by geography! Definitely entertaining.
October 2, 2017
All tween girls should read this series
August 26, 2018
The Pamela Cox books are still worth reading, but definitely not as good as the original series.
September 4, 2018
Not bad for Pamela Cox, tho her other works to fill in Blyton’s gaps in the St Clare’s series were better
September 15, 2018
A *new* Blyton Fairly enjoyable but somehow just misses the atmosphere of the originals. McGinty the goat was a fun addition though
February 10, 2019
I like the other St. Clare books better than this one.
April 3, 2020
I love this book and I especially love the author Enid Blyton she writes such amazing stories
Read
April 19, 2020(Re-read)
May 31, 2020
St. Claires will always be my favourite.
November 17, 2020
This one's going to be the most hilarious one in the series! I loved kitty so much!
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