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St. Clare's #7
The Third Form at St. Clare's
Based upon, and continuing Enid Blyton's St. Clare's series. The holidays are over and twins Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan are dying to get back to school. The big question on everybody's lips is, who will be head girl? But a terrible accident and an hilarious school play show the true leaders in the third form, but they also show up the cheats and cowards.
152 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2005
37 people are currently reading
1114 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Cox
38 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 82 reviews
January 10, 2021
Although I can certainly understand that Pamela Cox has penned The Third Form at St. Clare's in order to textually bridge the gap between Enid Blyton's The Second Form at St. Clare's and Claudine at St. Clare's (which takes place while the St. Clare's girls are in the fourth form), I also cannot and will not claim that I have found The Third Form at St. Clare's either all that engaging and readable theme and content wise or even a to and for me realistic enough continuation of Blyton's original St. Clare's novels.
For while The Third Form at St. Clare's could probably be considered as a decent enough English boarding school story in and of itself, as an actual novel that is meant to carry on with the exploits of Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan and their friends at St. Clare's (and indeed also firmly set in the time and place of 1940s England), The Third Form at St. Clare's is or rather has felt much too strangely modern-age at times and is also and considerably more problematically not all that faithful with how Pamela Cox has rendered her characters with regard to Enid Blyton's originals (as in my opinion, especially how both Janet Robbins and Carlotta Brown are depicted in The Third Form at St. Clare's does not really mesh all that successfully with how they appear with Enid Blyton, since I certainly cannot really see plain spoken and always forthright Janet as suddenly becoming calculatingly mean-spirited and jealous nor can I picture erstwhile circus girl Carlotta as suddenly transforming herself into a responsible and generally staid and level headed head girl).
Furthermore, while I have actually rather enjoyed reading about Cousin Alison being a trifle less feather-brained and too quick to engage in schoolgirl crushes in The Third Form at St. Clare's, considering that in Enid Blyton's Claudine at St. Clare's (which is supposed to be taking place AFTER the girls have finished with the third form), Alison is actually in every way as much of a fashion fanatic and worshipper of the wrong types of friends as always, it really does not make sense for Pamela Cox to have rendered her Cousin Alison in The Third Form at St. Clare's as suddenly growing up and maturing to such an extent. And thus, I really do very much wish that Pamela Cox had in fact kept the St. Clare's girls, had kept her characters as a bit closer to how they appear in Enid Blyton's original texts, how they present themselves in the original St. Clare's stories (since from where I am standing, compared to the latter, many of Pamela Cox's characters in The Third Form at St. Clare's just do not feel as though Cox has really caught Enid Blyton's spirit and certainly not the St. Clare's schoolgirls as they appear under her, under Blyton's pen).
For while The Third Form at St. Clare's could probably be considered as a decent enough English boarding school story in and of itself, as an actual novel that is meant to carry on with the exploits of Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan and their friends at St. Clare's (and indeed also firmly set in the time and place of 1940s England), The Third Form at St. Clare's is or rather has felt much too strangely modern-age at times and is also and considerably more problematically not all that faithful with how Pamela Cox has rendered her characters with regard to Enid Blyton's originals (as in my opinion, especially how both Janet Robbins and Carlotta Brown are depicted in The Third Form at St. Clare's does not really mesh all that successfully with how they appear with Enid Blyton, since I certainly cannot really see plain spoken and always forthright Janet as suddenly becoming calculatingly mean-spirited and jealous nor can I picture erstwhile circus girl Carlotta as suddenly transforming herself into a responsible and generally staid and level headed head girl).
Furthermore, while I have actually rather enjoyed reading about Cousin Alison being a trifle less feather-brained and too quick to engage in schoolgirl crushes in The Third Form at St. Clare's, considering that in Enid Blyton's Claudine at St. Clare's (which is supposed to be taking place AFTER the girls have finished with the third form), Alison is actually in every way as much of a fashion fanatic and worshipper of the wrong types of friends as always, it really does not make sense for Pamela Cox to have rendered her Cousin Alison in The Third Form at St. Clare's as suddenly growing up and maturing to such an extent. And thus, I really do very much wish that Pamela Cox had in fact kept the St. Clare's girls, had kept her characters as a bit closer to how they appear in Enid Blyton's original texts, how they present themselves in the original St. Clare's stories (since from where I am standing, compared to the latter, many of Pamela Cox's characters in The Third Form at St. Clare's just do not feel as though Cox has really caught Enid Blyton's spirit and certainly not the St. Clare's schoolgirls as they appear under her, under Blyton's pen).
August 26, 2021
Weiter geht’s mit dem Hanni-und-Nanni Hörbuch-Reread!
Ich muss zugeben, dass ich anfangs irritiert war – diese Geschichte kam mir aus meiner Kindheit überhaupt nicht bekannt vor, obwohl ich mir sicher war, alle Hanni und Nanni Bücher mehrfach gelesen zu haben. Und tatsächlich: dieser Band stammt nicht von Enid Blyton, sondern wurde Anfang der 2000er von einer Ghostwriterin namens Pamela Cox geschrieben, um die Lücke zwischen dem zweiten und dem vierten Jahr in Lindenhof (oder St. Clare’s) zu schließen, die Blyton gelassen hat. Das ist übrigens wahrscheinlich auch der Grund, weshalb das Hörbuch bei Youtube als Band 5 und bei Goodreads als Band 7 geführt wird.
Der deutsche Schneider-Verlag hatte ja schon bei der Erstveröffentlichung in den 60er Jahren Ghostwriter für eigene, deutsche Bände eingesetzt (da Hanni und Nanni hierzulande viel erfolgreicher war als in GB) und somit keinen Bedarf mehr für neue Füllerbände, weshalb dieser Teil offenbar nie übersetzt wurde. Soweit zu dem Formalitäten 😄, jetzt zum Inhalt:
Cox füllt das „vergessene Schuljahr“ mit einer netten Geschichte über die Lindenhofschülerinnen, die ein selbstgeschriebenes Theaterstück auf die Beine stellen wollen. Außerdem gibt es auf dem Nachbarhof neuerdings Pferde! Ein Traum für Carlotta, die sich gleich mit Libby, einer Bewohnerin des Hofes und Tagesschülerin in Lindenhof, anfreundet. Leider geht auch Libbys Cousine Fern in die Klasse – und da Blytonbücher nie ohne eine absolut berechenbare unsympathische Schülerin auskommen, könnt ihr euch gut vorstellen, wie die so drauf ist.
Des Weiteren ist ein eher unerwarteter Konflikt handlungsbestimmend: Nachdem die zuverlässige Hilda zwei Jahre lang ihr Vertrauenssprecherinnenamt tadellos bekleidet hat, soll nun eine andere Schülerin ihre Führungskräfte beweisen. Jenny ist sich fast sicher, dass diese Ehre ihr zuteil wird, bevor bekanntgegeben wird, dass die wilde Carlotta das Amt übernehmen wird. Jenny hat daraufhin das Schuljahr über mit Missgunst und Eifersucht ihrer Freundin gegenüber zu kämpfen. Ob die Freundschaft das übersteht?
_______________________________________
Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Rezensenten hier finde ich eigentlich, dass es Pamela Cox ganz gut gelungen ist, einen Band zu schreiben, der sich in die fertige Reihe einfügt. Man muss nun mal auch die Voraussetzungen berücksichtigen: Alle neuen Schülerinnen, die sie einführt, müssen die Schule am Ende des Jahres wieder verlassen, da sie ja im Folgeband (von Blyton vor einem halben Jahrhundert verfasst) nicht mehr auftauchen. Auch der Plot durfte zu keinen langfristigen Veränderungen im Lindenhofgefüge führen – von demher war das Theaterstück als Plot ganz gut gewählt.
In diesem Band geht es kaum um Hanni und Nanni, sie tauchen wenig bis gar nicht auf. Die Handlung fokussiert sich eher auf Mitschülerinnen, die sonst eher Nebenrollen spielen, was ich auch mal ganz interessant fand. Im Gegensatz zu Blyton hat Cox auf versucht, tiefergehende Beziehungsmuster zu beleuchten (z.B. zwischen Carlotta und Jenny). Das war eine erfrischende Abwechslung zu Blytons stereotypisierten Figuren und Konflikten. Ansonsten hält sie sich handlungsmäßig an den Hanni-und Nanni-Standard: Mitternachtsparties, Streiche und Französischprüfungen.
Auf die Pferde hätte ich persönlich verzichten können, aber das tut der Sache keinen Abbruch: Third Form at St. Clare’s ist ein schönes Hörbuch für zwischendurch und eine nette Ergänzung zur Originalreihe.
Ich muss zugeben, dass ich anfangs irritiert war – diese Geschichte kam mir aus meiner Kindheit überhaupt nicht bekannt vor, obwohl ich mir sicher war, alle Hanni und Nanni Bücher mehrfach gelesen zu haben. Und tatsächlich: dieser Band stammt nicht von Enid Blyton, sondern wurde Anfang der 2000er von einer Ghostwriterin namens Pamela Cox geschrieben, um die Lücke zwischen dem zweiten und dem vierten Jahr in Lindenhof (oder St. Clare’s) zu schließen, die Blyton gelassen hat. Das ist übrigens wahrscheinlich auch der Grund, weshalb das Hörbuch bei Youtube als Band 5 und bei Goodreads als Band 7 geführt wird.
Der deutsche Schneider-Verlag hatte ja schon bei der Erstveröffentlichung in den 60er Jahren Ghostwriter für eigene, deutsche Bände eingesetzt (da Hanni und Nanni hierzulande viel erfolgreicher war als in GB) und somit keinen Bedarf mehr für neue Füllerbände, weshalb dieser Teil offenbar nie übersetzt wurde. Soweit zu dem Formalitäten 😄, jetzt zum Inhalt:
Cox füllt das „vergessene Schuljahr“ mit einer netten Geschichte über die Lindenhofschülerinnen, die ein selbstgeschriebenes Theaterstück auf die Beine stellen wollen. Außerdem gibt es auf dem Nachbarhof neuerdings Pferde! Ein Traum für Carlotta, die sich gleich mit Libby, einer Bewohnerin des Hofes und Tagesschülerin in Lindenhof, anfreundet. Leider geht auch Libbys Cousine Fern in die Klasse – und da Blytonbücher nie ohne eine absolut berechenbare unsympathische Schülerin auskommen, könnt ihr euch gut vorstellen, wie die so drauf ist.
Des Weiteren ist ein eher unerwarteter Konflikt handlungsbestimmend: Nachdem die zuverlässige Hilda zwei Jahre lang ihr Vertrauenssprecherinnenamt tadellos bekleidet hat, soll nun eine andere Schülerin ihre Führungskräfte beweisen. Jenny ist sich fast sicher, dass diese Ehre ihr zuteil wird, bevor bekanntgegeben wird, dass die wilde Carlotta das Amt übernehmen wird. Jenny hat daraufhin das Schuljahr über mit Missgunst und Eifersucht ihrer Freundin gegenüber zu kämpfen. Ob die Freundschaft das übersteht?
_______________________________________
Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Rezensenten hier finde ich eigentlich, dass es Pamela Cox ganz gut gelungen ist, einen Band zu schreiben, der sich in die fertige Reihe einfügt. Man muss nun mal auch die Voraussetzungen berücksichtigen: Alle neuen Schülerinnen, die sie einführt, müssen die Schule am Ende des Jahres wieder verlassen, da sie ja im Folgeband (von Blyton vor einem halben Jahrhundert verfasst) nicht mehr auftauchen. Auch der Plot durfte zu keinen langfristigen Veränderungen im Lindenhofgefüge führen – von demher war das Theaterstück als Plot ganz gut gewählt.
In diesem Band geht es kaum um Hanni und Nanni, sie tauchen wenig bis gar nicht auf. Die Handlung fokussiert sich eher auf Mitschülerinnen, die sonst eher Nebenrollen spielen, was ich auch mal ganz interessant fand. Im Gegensatz zu Blyton hat Cox auf versucht, tiefergehende Beziehungsmuster zu beleuchten (z.B. zwischen Carlotta und Jenny). Das war eine erfrischende Abwechslung zu Blytons stereotypisierten Figuren und Konflikten. Ansonsten hält sie sich handlungsmäßig an den Hanni-und Nanni-Standard: Mitternachtsparties, Streiche und Französischprüfungen.
Auf die Pferde hätte ich persönlich verzichten können, aber das tut der Sache keinen Abbruch: Third Form at St. Clare’s ist ein schönes Hörbuch für zwischendurch und eine nette Ergänzung zur Originalreihe.
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. ❤️
October 21, 2019
It's official now - I am binging on this series! The Third Form at St. Clare's was not in the original St. Clare's series by Enid Blyton. It was later included along with two other books in the series in 2000 and is written by Pamela Cox. I rather liked Cox's Malory Towers continuation, but I don't think she is at her best with the St. Clare's books.
Carlotta is given the chance to be the head girl of the form in this book, and I really liked the idea. Unfortunately, Cox is unable to do this plot justice. Carlotta is undermined by others and is absent most of the time, so we are unable to see anything interesting developing. Carlotta also makes friends with Libby, a day-school girl, and ends up in a bitter feud with her possessive cousin, Fern. This leads to some real drama, but again, didn't hold my interest. There is also a small feud between Janet and Carlotta, but Cox couldn't do justice to it either. For so much revolving around Carlotta in this book, Cox really couldn't give her any continuation. Blyton would have done a much better job with these plots, I feel.
The one plot I did enjoy revolved around another new girl who proved to have a great talent as a playwright. But personally I feel that Cox got carried away with the 'bad girl Fern' thing. She appears to be on the verge of being psychotic, which is not what I want to read about even in a pseudo Blyton book!
Overall, a mediocre effort by Cox in an attempt to copy Blyton.
Carlotta is given the chance to be the head girl of the form in this book, and I really liked the idea. Unfortunately, Cox is unable to do this plot justice. Carlotta is undermined by others and is absent most of the time, so we are unable to see anything interesting developing. Carlotta also makes friends with Libby, a day-school girl, and ends up in a bitter feud with her possessive cousin, Fern. This leads to some real drama, but again, didn't hold my interest. There is also a small feud between Janet and Carlotta, but Cox couldn't do justice to it either. For so much revolving around Carlotta in this book, Cox really couldn't give her any continuation. Blyton would have done a much better job with these plots, I feel.
The one plot I did enjoy revolved around another new girl who proved to have a great talent as a playwright. But personally I feel that Cox got carried away with the 'bad girl Fern' thing. She appears to be on the verge of being psychotic, which is not what I want to read about even in a pseudo Blyton book!
Overall, a mediocre effort by Cox in an attempt to copy Blyton.
July 31, 2017
My fav of the series so far!
June 3, 2019
Actual rating- 4.5 stars.
I'm not sure if this was the first book Pamela Cox wrote for the additions of Enid Blyton's school series', because there are some things at the start that make it obviously different but it's still enjoyable. I do prefer the sixth form book she wrote for St Clare's (though the next one is pretty enjoyable from what I remember), along with the additional Malory Towers books.
Having said that, I'm not sure why the third form book(s) wasn't part of the original series, so it makes sense that they've been added in at the later date. But it's still a good fun part of the St Clare's series.
I'm not sure if this was the first book Pamela Cox wrote for the additions of Enid Blyton's school series', because there are some things at the start that make it obviously different but it's still enjoyable. I do prefer the sixth form book she wrote for St Clare's (though the next one is pretty enjoyable from what I remember), along with the additional Malory Towers books.
Having said that, I'm not sure why the third form book(s) wasn't part of the original series, so it makes sense that they've been added in at the later date. But it's still a good fun part of the St Clare's series.
December 22, 2022
While I did enjoy this story, there were some things that didn't sit quite right with me.
It felt incredibly short, and i feel we could have gotten more out of the new characters! given that the next book, also written by Pamela Cox, is set on the third form, some of them could have stayed for the next term!.
* spoilers ahead*
Secondly, i didn't like Janet's attitude at all. It didn't seem like her to be jealous like that. I get that it gets the plot moving... but i felt it might have been better to have her as head girl for this term, and switch positions, maybe. I would have found more gullible if Carlotta had wanted to be head girl, to impresss her grandma, and the teachers didn't find her trustworthy yet.
I still thought that she was not settled enough to be head girl this term.
Appart from that, i did enjoy the story.
It felt incredibly short, and i feel we could have gotten more out of the new characters! given that the next book, also written by Pamela Cox, is set on the third form, some of them could have stayed for the next term!.
* spoilers ahead*
Secondly, i didn't like Janet's attitude at all. It didn't seem like her to be jealous like that. I get that it gets the plot moving... but i felt it might have been better to have her as head girl for this term, and switch positions, maybe. I would have found more gullible if Carlotta had wanted to be head girl, to impresss her grandma, and the teachers didn't find her trustworthy yet.
I still thought that she was not settled enough to be head girl this term.
Appart from that, i did enjoy the story.
Read
February 6, 2017This is the first time I've read an Enid Blyton authored by someone else. I must admit to a certain reluctance-reading the first few pages alone, any avid Blyton fan would know that this was not a genuine product. Later, however, the pace picked up and I quite enjoyed the book. You can, of course, spot the differences, as for example, there is very little reference to lessons or the schoolroom-most of the action is centred on the pranks devised by the second and third formers. But all in all, not a bad book.
March 26, 2019
Listened to in audio format.
The Third Form at St Clare`s was written by Pamela Cox based on Enid Blyton`s original series. I don't know if Enid Blyton ever wrote about Pat and Isobel`s third year at St Clare`s, but when I saw this book I thought I would give it a try.
The author mostly kept true to Enid Blyton`s strong moral values. However I think the scene when Fern humiliated Rachel in the dress rehearsal was pure malice and Enid Blyton`s books were never like that.
I enjoyed The Third Form but you could tell Enid Blyton had not written it.
The Third Form at St Clare`s was written by Pamela Cox based on Enid Blyton`s original series. I don't know if Enid Blyton ever wrote about Pat and Isobel`s third year at St Clare`s, but when I saw this book I thought I would give it a try.
The author mostly kept true to Enid Blyton`s strong moral values. However I think the scene when Fern humiliated Rachel in the dress rehearsal was pure malice and Enid Blyton`s books were never like that.
I enjoyed The Third Form but you could tell Enid Blyton had not written it.
May 14, 2012
Awesome children's book...
One of my best friend Sanil Khanna gave me to read it...I was quite surprised that he was reading a children's book at the age of 23 but when I started to read it...I finished it in just a day!!!
Girls have always been the way they are at any age!
Jealously and companionship are two elements of any friendship a girl has. Interesting story.
One of my best friend Sanil Khanna gave me to read it...I was quite surprised that he was reading a children's book at the age of 23 but when I started to read it...I finished it in just a day!!!
Girls have always been the way they are at any age!
Jealously and companionship are two elements of any friendship a girl has. Interesting story.
October 19, 2018
The book is simply amazing. I really envy the girls at St.Clare as they are extremely lucky for having good friends and headmistresses. The book beautifully captures the varying moods of girls in situations. A must read book for only and pampered children.
August 16, 2018
انید ماری بلایتون (زادهٔ ۱۱ اوت ۱۸۹۷ در دولویچ شرقی، لندن – درگذشتهٔ ۲۸ نوامبر ۱۹۶۸ در همپستید، لندن) از نویسندگان محبوب ادبیات کودک و نوجوان اهل انگلستان است که شماری از داستانهایش را با نام مری پولاک نوشتهاست.
زندگی
انید بلایتون در ۱۱ اوت ۱۸۷۹ به دنیا آمد.
انید پس از پایان تحصیلاتش معلم شد اما در اوقات فراغتش داستان مینوشت و شعر میسرود.
او از سال ۱۹۵۹ به سبب بیماری فعالیتهای ادبیاش را کم کرد و پس از آن نیز کمکم نوشتن مجموعه داستانهایش را کنار گذاشت. این نویسندهٔ پرکار در سالهای پایانی زندگی، حافظهاش را از دست داد.
در نهایت، انید بلایتون در سال ۱۹۶۸ از دنیا رفت. او در زمان مرگش یکی از سه نویسندهای بود که آثارشان به بیشترین زبانها ترجمه شده بود و کار ترجمه و انتشار این آثار پس از مرگش هم ادامه یافتهاست.
فعالیت ادبی
نخستین اثر او مجموعه شعری بود که در سال ۱۹۲۲ منتشر شد و بعد از انتشار این کتاب بود که او کار نوشتن را جدی گرفت.
کارهای بعدی بلایتون بازنویسی قصههای فلکلور و بعدها داستاننویسی بود و پس از گذشت سالها به یکی از پرکارترین داستاننویسان انگلیس بدل شد؛ به طوری که گفته میشود در سالهای ابتدایی دههٔ ۱۹۵۰، هر ساله به طور متوسط ۵۰ عنوان از کتابهایش منتشر میشد. داستانهای بلایتون به حدود ۹۰ زبان ترجمه شده و کودکان و نوجوانان جهان بیش از ۶۰۰ میلیون نسخه از آثارش را خواندهاند.
یکی از ویژگیهای آثار انید بلایتون این است که قهرمانان کودک و نوجوان داستانهایش با کمترین کمک از سوی بزرگسالان به ماجراجویی میپردازند و افرادی شایسته و متکی به خود به شمار میروند. تخیل یکی دیگر از ویژگیهای داستانهای بلایتون است.
آثار
برخی از موفقترین آثار بلایتون عبارتند از:
پنج دنبالگرد (به انگلیسی: The Five Find-Outers) همچنین مشهور است به مجموعهٔ اسرار انید بلایتون (به انگلیسی: Enid Blyton's Mystery series)
مجموعهٔ پنج مشهور (به انگلیسی: The Famous Five series)
مجموعهٔ ماجرا (به انگلیسی: The Adventure series)
کتابهای نادی (به انگلیسی: The Noddy books)
مجموعهٔ هفت رازدار (به انگلیسی: The Secret Seven series)
مجموعهٔ برجهای مالوری (به انگلیسی: The Malory Towers series)
مجموعهٔ سنتکلر (به انگلیسی: The St. Clare's series)
مجموعهٔ صندلی آرزوها (به انگلیسی: The Wishing-Chair series)
مجموعهٔ درخت جادوی خیلیدور (به انگلیسی: The Magic Faraway Tree series)
مجموعهٔ اسرار بارنی (به انگلیسی: The Barney Mystery series)
مجموعهٔ سیرک (به انگلیسی: The Circus series)
مجموعهٔ مزرعهٔ میستلتو (به انگلیسی: The Mistletoe Farm series)
مجموعهٔ شیطونترین دختر (به انگلیسی: The Naughtiest Girl series)
مجموعهٔ ماجراجویان جوان (به انگلیسی: The Young Adventurers Series)
مجموعهٔ چهار ماجراجو (به انگلیسی: The Adventurous Four Series)
مجموعهٔ خانواده (به انگلیسی: The Family Series)
مجموعهٔ ماجرای خانواده (به انگلیسی: The Family Adventure Series)
مجموعهٔ راز (به انگلیسی: The Secret Series)
کتاب داستان قرمز (به انگلیسی: The Red Story Book)
کتاب داستان سبز (به انگلیسی: The Green Story Book)
کتاب داستان آبی (به انگلیسی: The Blue Story Book)
داستانهای وقتخواب (به انگلیسی: Bedtime Stories)
زندگی
انید بلایتون در ۱۱ اوت ۱۸۷۹ به دنیا آمد.
انید پس از پایان تحصیلاتش معلم شد اما در اوقات فراغتش داستان مینوشت و شعر میسرود.
او از سال ۱۹۵۹ به سبب بیماری فعالیتهای ادبیاش را کم کرد و پس از آن نیز کمکم نوشتن مجموعه داستانهایش را کنار گذاشت. این نویسندهٔ پرکار در سالهای پایانی زندگی، حافظهاش را از دست داد.
در نهایت، انید بلایتون در سال ۱۹۶۸ از دنیا رفت. او در زمان مرگش یکی از سه نویسندهای بود که آثارشان به بیشترین زبانها ترجمه شده بود و کار ترجمه و انتشار این آثار پس از مرگش هم ادامه یافتهاست.
فعالیت ادبی
نخستین اثر او مجموعه شعری بود که در سال ۱۹۲۲ منتشر شد و بعد از انتشار این کتاب بود که او کار نوشتن را جدی گرفت.
کارهای بعدی بلایتون بازنویسی قصههای فلکلور و بعدها داستاننویسی بود و پس از گذشت سالها به یکی از پرکارترین داستاننویسان انگلیس بدل شد؛ به طوری که گفته میشود در سالهای ابتدایی دههٔ ۱۹۵۰، هر ساله به طور متوسط ۵۰ عنوان از کتابهایش منتشر میشد. داستانهای بلایتون به حدود ۹۰ زبان ترجمه شده و کودکان و نوجوانان جهان بیش از ۶۰۰ میلیون نسخه از آثارش را خواندهاند.
یکی از ویژگیهای آثار انید بلایتون این است که قهرمانان کودک و نوجوان داستانهایش با کمترین کمک از سوی بزرگسالان به ماجراجویی میپردازند و افرادی شایسته و متکی به خود به شمار میروند. تخیل یکی دیگر از ویژگیهای داستانهای بلایتون است.
آثار
برخی از موفقترین آثار بلایتون عبارتند از:
پنج دنبالگرد (به انگلیسی: The Five Find-Outers) همچنین مشهور است به مجموعهٔ اسرار انید بلایتون (به انگلیسی: Enid Blyton's Mystery series)
مجموعهٔ پنج مشهور (به انگلیسی: The Famous Five series)
مجموعهٔ ماجرا (به انگلیسی: The Adventure series)
کتابهای نادی (به انگلیسی: The Noddy books)
مجموعهٔ هفت رازدار (به انگلیسی: The Secret Seven series)
مجموعهٔ برجهای مالوری (به انگلیسی: The Malory Towers series)
مجموعهٔ سنتکلر (به انگلیسی: The St. Clare's series)
مجموعهٔ صندلی آرزوها (به انگلیسی: The Wishing-Chair series)
مجموعهٔ درخت جادوی خیلیدور (به انگلیسی: The Magic Faraway Tree series)
مجموعهٔ اسرار بارنی (به انگلیسی: The Barney Mystery series)
مجموعهٔ سیرک (به انگلیسی: The Circus series)
مجموعهٔ مزرعهٔ میستلتو (به انگلیسی: The Mistletoe Farm series)
مجموعهٔ شیطونترین دختر (به انگلیسی: The Naughtiest Girl series)
مجموعهٔ ماجراجویان جوان (به انگلیسی: The Young Adventurers Series)
مجموعهٔ چهار ماجراجو (به انگلیسی: The Adventurous Four Series)
مجموعهٔ خانواده (به انگلیسی: The Family Series)
مجموعهٔ ماجرای خانواده (به انگلیسی: The Family Adventure Series)
مجموعهٔ راز (به انگلیسی: The Secret Series)
کتاب داستان قرمز (به انگلیسی: The Red Story Book)
کتاب داستان سبز (به انگلیسی: The Green Story Book)
کتاب داستان آبی (به انگلیسی: The Blue Story Book)
داستانهای وقتخواب (به انگلیسی: Bedtime Stories)
May 30, 2019
Pamela Cox vyplňuje mezery v sérii St Clare's od Enid Blyton a musím uznat, že poměrně zdařile. Věnuje velkou pozornost starým známým a zaměřuje se zejména na Janet, Carlottu a Alison (v menších rolích jsou pak i Gladys a Mirabel). Je fajn vidět Janet rozepsanou trochu více než jen jako vtipálka s ostrým jazykem, nicméně Carlotta je trochu necharakteristicky umírněná. Co se mi ale moc líbilo, byla Alison. I v originální sérii má svoje světlé chvilky (zvlášť, když se postaví slečně Quentinové anebo setře Angelu), ale tady se jí daří zářit většinu semestru. Až podezřele moc na to, že ve čtvrťáku se zfamfrní do Angely a je z ní zase povrchní hezká hlavička.
Cox začleňuje i některé klasické prvky ze St Clare - půlnoční večírky, vtípky na Mam'Zelle a návštěvu rodičů. Přitom se ale nedokáže vyvarovat recyklace - např. Mam'Zelle, která dívky načapá při věčírku už tu byla o ročník dřív.
Z nových postav byla nejsympatičtější Rachel, což se asi dá očekávat, protože Libby je pouze Carlottiným přihrávačem. Fern je bohužel jeden z těch nudnějších záporáků. Taková nevraživá Elsie nebo záškodnice Erika měly trochu větší grády.
Cox začleňuje i některé klasické prvky ze St Clare - půlnoční večírky, vtípky na Mam'Zelle a návštěvu rodičů. Přitom se ale nedokáže vyvarovat recyklace - např. Mam'Zelle, která dívky načapá při věčírku už tu byla o ročník dřív.
Z nových postav byla nejsympatičtější Rachel, což se asi dá očekávat, protože Libby je pouze Carlottiným přihrávačem. Fern je bohužel jeden z těch nudnějších záporáků. Taková nevraživá Elsie nebo záškodnice Erika měly trochu větší grády.
February 16, 2022
This is another good book from Enid Blyton, even though it was continued by Pamela Cox. I did enjoy this book very much, but it is very similar to the other ones, because the themes are almost the same. Like in this one there is a midnight feast and it gets ruined by Fern, but in every book it always gets ruined, so it’s often the same things. A lot of new characters come and go. Otherwise I enjoyed it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2025
another fabulous book, although I have had to use Amazon audible to get the order of the books as these are not labelled in order. I have loved listening to this one though and did feel for a few of the characters in this book
June 27, 2025
Next time one of my friends is sad I'm going to ask why they look like a wet weekend.
June 21, 2015
Ten Second Synopsis:
A new year means a new head girl, while some new students rock the boat vying for Alison's friendship. Can the girls overcome their differences long enough to put on a spectacular play for the end of term?
Sounds like a typical Enid Blyton adventure, right? Well, my friend, I thought so too. But herein lies the confusion. This title is, in fact, NOT part of the original series, but an add-on penned by Pamela Cox as a way to flesh out the original Blyton series.
Shocked?
So was I. Not so much by the fact that another writer had been called in to modernise Blyton’s work, but by the fact that I would have sworn blind that I had read this book as a kid. And yet I couldn’t have, because it was written in 2000. This was the bit that had me scratching my head and trying to remember the number for the Alzheimer’s hotline. As I was reading this story, I even deluded myself that I knew how it was going to turn out (due, of course, to my incredible ability to recall children’s literature). I predicted correctly, but I suspect that this was because the story follows the expected Blyton formula, rather than the fact that I had read it before (which I obviously hadn’t).
On the surface, everything appears as it should be. All the familiar characters are there, including wild circus gypsy girl Carlotta (who was a favourite of mine back in the day) and the book obviously reads enough like a Blyton to have tricked me into thinking I had already read it. There are a few little signs along the way that the story has been brought into the new millennium, with mention of coffee shops (Egad! Surely tea is the only reputable beverage in an English boarding school!) and a few turns of phrase that didn’t ring quite true to the old stories. There are also the old favourite plotlines of practical jokes, midnight feasts and sending people to Coventry.
Overall, I think Cox has done an admirable job in penning a story that could slot right into the series without a second thought and young contemporary readers discovering Blyton’s school stories for the first time will no doubt be thankful that the series has been given these additions.
A new year means a new head girl, while some new students rock the boat vying for Alison's friendship. Can the girls overcome their differences long enough to put on a spectacular play for the end of term?
Sounds like a typical Enid Blyton adventure, right? Well, my friend, I thought so too. But herein lies the confusion. This title is, in fact, NOT part of the original series, but an add-on penned by Pamela Cox as a way to flesh out the original Blyton series.
Shocked?
So was I. Not so much by the fact that another writer had been called in to modernise Blyton’s work, but by the fact that I would have sworn blind that I had read this book as a kid. And yet I couldn’t have, because it was written in 2000. This was the bit that had me scratching my head and trying to remember the number for the Alzheimer’s hotline. As I was reading this story, I even deluded myself that I knew how it was going to turn out (due, of course, to my incredible ability to recall children’s literature). I predicted correctly, but I suspect that this was because the story follows the expected Blyton formula, rather than the fact that I had read it before (which I obviously hadn’t).
On the surface, everything appears as it should be. All the familiar characters are there, including wild circus gypsy girl Carlotta (who was a favourite of mine back in the day) and the book obviously reads enough like a Blyton to have tricked me into thinking I had already read it. There are a few little signs along the way that the story has been brought into the new millennium, with mention of coffee shops (Egad! Surely tea is the only reputable beverage in an English boarding school!) and a few turns of phrase that didn’t ring quite true to the old stories. There are also the old favourite plotlines of practical jokes, midnight feasts and sending people to Coventry.
Overall, I think Cox has done an admirable job in penning a story that could slot right into the series without a second thought and young contemporary readers discovering Blyton’s school stories for the first time will no doubt be thankful that the series has been given these additions.
November 17, 2025
I just realized that this wasn’t written by Enid and it really shows. This book was strangely modern and it really seemed to mischaracterize Carlotta and Janet. For one, Carlotta seemingly lost all her Spanish touch and suddenly became not as wild. Janet was weirdly catty.
Still, the lesbians reign. Rachel and Fern fighting over Alison and then Fern turning into the bitter mean girl after being jealous - a book ahead of its time fr. Also casting Gladys and Mirabel as husband and wife….. I know what u are.
I really enjoyed Alison’s character development in this though. I was about to get bored if she would continue to moon over randoms. The tricks in this book were kind of bad though. BUT! Finally!! An antagonist I can get behind…. I ATE UP the drama!!! My silly 12 year old self is rejoicing lmao
Still, the lesbians reign. Rachel and Fern fighting over Alison and then Fern turning into the bitter mean girl after being jealous - a book ahead of its time fr. Also casting Gladys and Mirabel as husband and wife….. I know what u are.
I really enjoyed Alison’s character development in this though. I was about to get bored if she would continue to moon over randoms. The tricks in this book were kind of bad though. BUT! Finally!! An antagonist I can get behind…. I ATE UP the drama!!! My silly 12 year old self is rejoicing lmao
June 30, 2015
I promised myself I wouldn't be that fan. Someone writing again for St. Clare's is awesome, no matter the quality. I would give Pamela Cox a chance.
But she blew it: she dropped everything that made St. Clares St. Clares, including throwing in Day students, Carlotta being allowed out of the school to go horse riding, changing people's characters, the wrong girls chosen as Head Girls, the typical language, and even a boy.
I was still trying to give them a chance, but it became harder and harder, as the new characters got thrown center stage, ignoring Isabel and Pat constantly.
I will read the next books she wrote, but still, I wish she had saved her writing for a "future St. Clares".
But she blew it: she dropped everything that made St. Clares St. Clares, including throwing in Day students, Carlotta being allowed out of the school to go horse riding, changing people's characters, the wrong girls chosen as Head Girls, the typical language, and even a boy.
I was still trying to give them a chance, but it became harder and harder, as the new characters got thrown center stage, ignoring Isabel and Pat constantly.
I will read the next books she wrote, but still, I wish she had saved her writing for a "future St. Clares".
January 17, 2014
وای که من چقدررررررر دلم برای این مدارس شبانه روزی تنگ شده بود...
جشن های شبانه٫ کلک های بوبی و جانت و دوریس در کلاس مادموازل! :))
تازه واردها! قهر و آشتی ها! آدمای دوست داشتنی :)
همه اش خوب بود خیلی خیلی!!
حتی نمیدونم این چندمین باری بود که میخوندمش! فقط میتونم بگم خـــــیـــــلــــی لذت بردم! :]
جشن های شبانه٫ کلک های بوبی و جانت و دوریس در کلاس مادموازل! :))
تازه واردها! قهر و آشتی ها! آدمای دوست داشتنی :)
همه اش خوب بود خیلی خیلی!!
حتی نمیدونم این چندمین باری بود که میخوندمش! فقط میتونم بگم خـــــیـــــلــــی لذت بردم! :]
February 1, 2010
Out of all of the St. Clare's books, I thought that this one gave the most insight on the boarding school. The change in authors was executed well and I had found myself excited for the rest of the books.
January 11, 2009
Such fun, makes me want to go to boarding school & have midnight feasts, even though I'm 40 & a mum myself.
July 25, 2009
Not a bad book, though lacks the charm of the original series. Still, an interesting fill-in of one of the missing years.
Want to read
December 25, 2014mn.,m,.klmlk,mkjlnm,mjknmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnjin
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2017
I loved it! I used to like Fern but... She's evil. I also love Rachel and Janet!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2017
A fun book for young ladies to read
October 28, 2023
I enjoyed Pamela Cox's continuation novels in the Malory Towers series, so much so that I have no problem considering them a real part of the series, along with Enid Blyton's novels. Therefore, when it comes to the St. Clare series, I'm reading Pamela Cox three novels along with Enid Blyton's six, in internal chronological order. This is therefore the fifth book in the series, after Blyton's
Second Form at St Clare's.
Unlike Malory Towers, where the continuation novels are set after the original ones, and with a different set of characters, here we are in the middle of the original series, following the O'Sullivan twins and her school-mates. That has the problem that any small difference is style is more noticeable. However, it was fine. Pamela Cox is able to channel her inner Blyton quite well, and this has a similar feeling to the originals.
If you have read some of these books, you know how it goes. Most of the drama is centered around new girls, who are therefore unknown quantities for the reader and can easily have more character development than more established characters. In that sense, and in the kind of plot threads Pamela Cox uses, this fits very well with the rest of the series. You could say it's too faithful to the premise and style of the series, and that it doesn't bring anything new to the table, but that's really what I want from a continuation novel. If the author is not going to follow the same formula and is going to do her own thing instead... well, she might as well write her own novel instead of a continuation novel is someone else's series. Besides, Enid Blyton's novels are formulaic too, and the familiarity is part of the charm for young readers.
I have read another reviewer complaining that Janet, Carlotta and Allison are out of character here and... yes, there's something to that complaint, but the differences seemed acceptable to me. For example, Janet is jealous that Carlotta is head of the form instead of her. That's rather out of character for her, but then it's mostly an unconscious kind of jealousy, and I guess that even a normally generous and plain-spoken person can sometimes nurse such a resentment. She realizes her mistake at the end and vows to do better, so why not.
All in all, I find it a perfectly fine entry in the St. Clare series, and like with her Malory Towers books, I don't have a problem regarding Pamela Cox's books as a real part of this series.
Second Form at St Clare's.
Unlike Malory Towers, where the continuation novels are set after the original ones, and with a different set of characters, here we are in the middle of the original series, following the O'Sullivan twins and her school-mates. That has the problem that any small difference is style is more noticeable. However, it was fine. Pamela Cox is able to channel her inner Blyton quite well, and this has a similar feeling to the originals.
If you have read some of these books, you know how it goes. Most of the drama is centered around new girls, who are therefore unknown quantities for the reader and can easily have more character development than more established characters. In that sense, and in the kind of plot threads Pamela Cox uses, this fits very well with the rest of the series. You could say it's too faithful to the premise and style of the series, and that it doesn't bring anything new to the table, but that's really what I want from a continuation novel. If the author is not going to follow the same formula and is going to do her own thing instead... well, she might as well write her own novel instead of a continuation novel is someone else's series. Besides, Enid Blyton's novels are formulaic too, and the familiarity is part of the charm for young readers.
I have read another reviewer complaining that Janet, Carlotta and Allison are out of character here and... yes, there's something to that complaint, but the differences seemed acceptable to me. For example, Janet is jealous that Carlotta is head of the form instead of her. That's rather out of character for her, but then it's mostly an unconscious kind of jealousy, and I guess that even a normally generous and plain-spoken person can sometimes nurse such a resentment. She realizes her mistake at the end and vows to do better, so why not.
All in all, I find it a perfectly fine entry in the St. Clare series, and like with her Malory Towers books, I don't have a problem regarding Pamela Cox's books as a real part of this series.
December 17, 2017
WARNING, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
This book was enjoyable, however the beginning was extremely boring for me. There were more exciting events and I certainly hope that it keeps getting better in the following books.
As you may have seen in my last review I sincerely thought Alice was going to change and be mature. However, as I’ve seen in this book, she continues to be the same old Alice, which deeply disappointed me. It seems like in this series people only change once, some not even that, they’re not a work in progress and that deeply angers me.
The way this book began was utterly unrealistic. The twins and Charlotte met Lara and Flora due to their fascination for horses, they were also intrigued to see who did the marvellous refurbishing in the old abandoned house. They’re mother (Mrs. O’Sullivan) just allowed them to go without knowing who could be there. The second thing that annoyed me is how they wanted to stay there because all of them were having an enjoyable time, like really?
This book series seems like the story never changes, it’s starting to bore me out of my mind.
Even though this series doesn’t change, they always have new people, always have pranks etc… I still find funny the pranks they make on MADEMOISELLE it’s hilarious at times, just to imagine what it would be like in real-life.
The events that began happening later in the book were more exciting and different compared to other books and that certainly makes it better and less boring to read.
Guys I was thinking that I may take a break from this series and jump back to the world of YA. It all depends on how long the next book is. I guess you’ll have to wait until the next review.
YOU HAVE REAHED THE END OF THIS REVIEW, HOPE IT HELPED, MAKE SURE TO SEE MY NEXT REVIEW, SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!
This book was enjoyable, however the beginning was extremely boring for me. There were more exciting events and I certainly hope that it keeps getting better in the following books.
As you may have seen in my last review I sincerely thought Alice was going to change and be mature. However, as I’ve seen in this book, she continues to be the same old Alice, which deeply disappointed me. It seems like in this series people only change once, some not even that, they’re not a work in progress and that deeply angers me.
The way this book began was utterly unrealistic. The twins and Charlotte met Lara and Flora due to their fascination for horses, they were also intrigued to see who did the marvellous refurbishing in the old abandoned house. They’re mother (Mrs. O’Sullivan) just allowed them to go without knowing who could be there. The second thing that annoyed me is how they wanted to stay there because all of them were having an enjoyable time, like really?
This book series seems like the story never changes, it’s starting to bore me out of my mind.
Even though this series doesn’t change, they always have new people, always have pranks etc… I still find funny the pranks they make on MADEMOISELLE it’s hilarious at times, just to imagine what it would be like in real-life.
The events that began happening later in the book were more exciting and different compared to other books and that certainly makes it better and less boring to read.
Guys I was thinking that I may take a break from this series and jump back to the world of YA. It all depends on how long the next book is. I guess you’ll have to wait until the next review.
YOU HAVE REAHED THE END OF THIS REVIEW, HOPE IT HELPED, MAKE SURE TO SEE MY NEXT REVIEW, SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!
March 9, 2025
Dit is niet can Enid!!!!!!
Pamela Cox heeft drie boeken geschreven in de wereld van St Clare's ergens in 2005 of zo? Op zich ook logisch. De originele boeken gaan drie keer over de first form, een keer over de second, en dan vijf en zes. Wat gebeurde er in form drie en vier??? Dus vanuit dat perspectief een leuke toevoeging. En ik heb bij Malory Towers genoten van de vervolgreeks van Pamela Cox over Felicity, dus ik dacht, dit komt helemaal goed.
Nee!!!!!!
Pamela pakt gewoon net niet goed de persoonlijkheden van deze personages,en het taalgebruik klopt ook echt niet. Waar zijn de hallo's? Waarom zeggen ze soms great in plaats van marvellous? Hoezo noemen ze head girl Jennifer in hemelsnaam Jenny???????? En ik mis ook een hoop staple gebeurtenissen, zoals dat er iemand head of the form is, discussies over wie de sportteams haalt, nature walks, en down to the little town gaan. Voelt toch niet juist zonder.
Ik vind het ook vervelend dat het halverwege een reeks is, dus niks kan blijvend worden geïntroduceerd. Alle nieuwe personages moeten weer weg voordat we bij de werkelijke Enid boeken komen. Waarom doe je dan nieuwe personages???? Beetje irritant.
Oh en Fern was echt bizar spiteful, echt hou op met me.
Beter is de volgende beter, Pamela!!!!
Pamela Cox heeft drie boeken geschreven in de wereld van St Clare's ergens in 2005 of zo? Op zich ook logisch. De originele boeken gaan drie keer over de first form, een keer over de second, en dan vijf en zes. Wat gebeurde er in form drie en vier??? Dus vanuit dat perspectief een leuke toevoeging. En ik heb bij Malory Towers genoten van de vervolgreeks van Pamela Cox over Felicity, dus ik dacht, dit komt helemaal goed.
Nee!!!!!!
Pamela pakt gewoon net niet goed de persoonlijkheden van deze personages,en het taalgebruik klopt ook echt niet. Waar zijn de hallo's? Waarom zeggen ze soms great in plaats van marvellous? Hoezo noemen ze head girl Jennifer in hemelsnaam Jenny???????? En ik mis ook een hoop staple gebeurtenissen, zoals dat er iemand head of the form is, discussies over wie de sportteams haalt, nature walks, en down to the little town gaan. Voelt toch niet juist zonder.
Ik vind het ook vervelend dat het halverwege een reeks is, dus niks kan blijvend worden geïntroduceerd. Alle nieuwe personages moeten weer weg voordat we bij de werkelijke Enid boeken komen. Waarom doe je dan nieuwe personages???? Beetje irritant.
Oh en Fern was echt bizar spiteful, echt hou op met me.
Beter is de volgende beter, Pamela!!!!
February 20, 2022
Unlike the Malory Towers continuations that Cox has penned that follow after the series concluded, this one fills in the gaps in the St Clare's series. And frankly, I have always wondered why there wasn't a Sixth Form at St Clare's so I'm quite excited to read it eventually. This particular book takes place in the third form which didn't get a book in the original Enid Blyton series. It was...okay, I liked it well enough, had the same issues with potentially anachronistic or at least non-Blytonic dialogue that I had with the first Cox book in the Malory Towers series. The plot was also okay, perhaps the characters were a bit different than portrayed, but overall it was standard Blyton boarding school fare with most of the drama being around badly-behaving girls who appear for one term and then disappear.
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