The Twins at St. Clare's

St. Clare's #1

by Enid Blyton

"The Twins at St Clare's" is a delightful children's novel featuring Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan, who face challenges adjusting to their new school. Amidst pranks, friendships, and unexpected revelations, the twins learn valuable lessons and discover the true meaning of belonging.

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

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

See also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)

Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.

Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.

Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.

According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.

See also her pen name Mary Pollock

Reviews

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

Hanna und Marianne - genannt Hanni und Nanni - sind 12 Jahre alt und Zwillinge. Nach den Ferien sollen sie das Internat Lindenhof besuchen, worüber die beiden Mädchen gar nicht erfreut sind. Sie möchten viel lieber mit ihren Freundinnen auf eine noblere Schule gehen. Es hilft aber nichts - ihr erster Schultag auf Internat Lindenhof steht kurz bevor. Hanni und Nanni sind fest entschlossen, dort alles doof zu finden und das Internat schnell wieder zu verlassen...
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Mein Leseeindruck:
Als Kind habe ich diese Buchreihe geliebt und viele Male gelesen. Hanni und Nanni gehören zu meiner Kindheit einfach dazu, und irgendwie hatte ich jetzt mal wieder Lust, die Reihe erneut zu lesen. Wie damals konnte mich auch heute der erste Band wieder packen. Es war wie eine kleine Zeitreise. Man kann aus vielen Kleinigkeiten herauslesen, dass die Geschichte schon relativ alt ist, aber gerade das macht auch den Charme des Buches aus! Ich habe mich sehr wohlgefühlt mit diesem ersten Band und werde sicherlich auch noch andere Teile der Reihe lesen!

[B]

I loved this series, it’s one of my childhood favourites. This was one of the first books I read set in a boarding school, and this series holds a special place in my heart. Would highly recommend it, it’s a fun read. ❤️

[Stacey | prettybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading St Clare's

I'm re-reading the St Clare's series (I bought the 1970s boxset as opposed to the new ones because they're just too...modern!). I first read the series when I was in infant and primary school (so about 6-9 years old most likely) and I remember loving them. Re-reading this book, it's interesting how I still remember bits of the storyline and the characters.

This is the first book in the series where Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan join St Clare's at 14 years old. I love how everyone says "ought" and "shan't", and they're just so posh. I love it! Why doesn't anyone use ointment anymore?

[Producervan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Twins at St Clare’s by Enid Blyton. Children’s Fiction. Granada Publishing Limited, Frogmore, St. Albans, Herts. Reprinted 1974. 5 Stars. This is a tattered copy I picked up for 10¢ at Sherman Oaks library more than 20 years ago. But such a fun book, the first in the St Clare’s series, a delightful story about twins Pat and Isabel going to a new school. At first they are not very pleased about it. Read how they adjust and eventually love St Clare’s! I am looking forward to reading the whole series.

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there certainly is like with many (if not probably with the majority of) British school stories a lot of commonplace and even stereotypical content being featured in The Twins at St. Clare's (tricking the form mistresses, midnight feasts, bad girls reforming, the importance of games and sports etc.) I do have to admit that I have still totally and utterly enjoyed Enid Blyton's The Twins at St. Clare's, and yes, mostly because of how naturally and with an almost palpable sense of reality Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan's first and rather fraught and problematic first term at a new (and not as elite as their former) boarding school is depicted. For while the above mentioned stereotyping does of course rather obviously and often present itself, I for one have found The Twins at St. Clare's for the most part delightfully realistic and also never really overly exaggerated or featuring unbelievable and extreme scenarios (I mean, you have Pat and Isabel needing to get used to their new school and to lose their arrogance and snobbishness, you have Kathleen and Sheila needing to reform themselves a bit, you have midnight parties and tricks being played, but not wild goose chases, no hauntings, no nefarious plots and dangers, just a simple and fun school story, with two relatable protagonists whom at first you love to hate and later you begin to really appreciate and cherish).

Delightfully British with its themes, vocabulary and attitudes, indeed, for me and my reading pleasure, The Twins at St. Clare's has been a solid and much appreciated four star reading experience. But while I am of course looking forward to reading the rest of Enid Blyton's St Clare's series (including Pamela Cox's continuations), after having briefly skimmed over some of them, I do fear that the sequels will indeed and a bit frustratingly have and present more and more one sidedness, more typecast characters and yes, also out of the ordinary and exaggerated scenarios (and really, the only minor issue I do have with this here specific edition of The Twins at St. Clare's is that the book cover image definitely does look a bit strange to and for my eyes, with Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan appearing rather like creepy and to be feared entities and not just two schoolgirls who are a bit stubborn and obstinate upon arriving at St. Clare's, with in particular their partially hooded eyes appearing menacing and staring).

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn’t a review - this is a classic Enid Blyton series, and I grew up with it and will always feel nostalgic toward it. But it is a bunch of unrelated thoughts on -

1. Buying used books - I went out of my way to order a matched set. Did I get them? Hahahaha. At least they’re all paperback. Online used-book buying: always an adventure!

2. School stories - I’m on a reread kick lately, and right before these, I reread the Vampire Academy books. It was interesting to contrast them. These stay school stories throughout, and there’s something old-school (heh) about that; the Vampire Academy series starts as a school story but definitely doesn’t stay there. In fact I can’t think of a popular modern series that does stay there; even Harry Potter doesn’t. It could just be escaping me, though (winter doldrums… even rereading in general is less taxing).

3. Main characters vs. themes - the first books focus on the twins, and in my memory, they were always the protagonists. It’s funny: they aren’t, really. They’re the initial windows into the school, but this series is honestly about character transformations. Early on, the twins start growing up; in later books, it’s other minor characters, and the twins take a back seat.

4. Most interesting characters - Angela’s father! Margery Fenworthy and her mountaineer father - Lucy and her artist father, who never saved a penny - Carlotta’s grandmother (hmmm, I sense a theme) - Miss Kennedy - Miss Jenks -

5. Best book in the series - I think it’s gotta be book four, Second Form. I have no idea why Blyton skipped the third form (and neither does the publisher; but who on earth takes a book from a different author and packages it as part of the original series?!) and the jump does result in some disorientation.

I hesitate to say these are good only because I don’t think you can come to them as an adult. But the little kid in me will insist they are regardless.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I asked my niece Alexa, who just read all the St. Clare's and Malory Towers, which series she liked best, and she says:
"St Clare's because I like the characters better and they become less snobby faster. Their tricks and midnight feasts are WAY better."

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

REVIEW OF HANNI UND NANNI SIND IMMER DAGEGEN (AND ACTUALLY THE ENTIRE ST. CLARES SERIES IN GENERAL, AS IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN GERMAN)

Of course, I am still planning on posting a detailed review of Enid Blyton’s original, of her The Twins at St. Clare’s in the near future. However, as someone who was both aghast and also totally disappointed (and yes also felt more than a bit lied to) when I realised that one of my favourite boarding school series from when I was a tween and young teenager was in fact NOT REALLY a translation of Enid Blyton’s original texts into German but at best only a very very loose adaptation, I do feel that I need to point out that if you are indeed planning on reading the St. Clare’s series in German, that no indeed, how the anonymous translator or translators have rendered both The Twins at St. Clare’s and indeed the entire series into German is in my opinion both an affront to what it means to translate and also to Enid Blyton as an author (and yes, I strongly feel this even though the German language versions of the St. Clare’s series have in fact been published in agreement with Enid Blyton’s estate).

For one, after now having read and compared the first five or so Hanni und Nanni books with their supposed English language counterparts, there are in my humble opinion just too many differences, too many instances where in particular specifically British boarding school content has either been removed or replaced with generic and flat pan continental European boarding school themes. And indeed and furthermore, one of my biggest issues with the first novel, with Hanni und Nanni sind immer dagegen is that while just like in The Twins at St. Clare’s it is certainly shown that Hanni and Nanni do not at first enjoy being at Lindenhof (what St. Clare’s is called in German), their stuck up snobbishness and arrogance is considerably toned down in Hanni und Nanni sind immer dagegen which makes their conversion, which makes them finally liking their boarding school and desiring to make the school proud of them much less emphatic and to be feted than with Enid Blyton’s original text (where in The Twins at St. Clare’s, Pat and Isabel O’Sullivan truly do change from totally unlikable to likeable, something you do not really feel all that much in Hanni und Nanni sind immer dagegen, as albeit that the twins are shown in the German adaptation as being a bit stubborn and homesick, they are still depicted as likeable and personable).

And for two, I also do not really understand why the Hanni und Nanni series has been continued by anonymous ghost writers (more than twenty books, I believe) and why Enid Blyton’s name is still associated with this. As although the St. Clare’s novels adapted from Enid Blyton’s actual books (even with their many and to me really annoying changes) still at least vaguely resemble the original series, many of the continuations are so horribly removed that still having Enid Blyton’s name printed as author on the book covers, does neither work nor is it from where I am standing all that academically honest.

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enough pranks, scrapes, tuck-boxes and midnight feasts to keep Blyton fans of all generations entertained. Almost (but not quite) as enjoyable as Malory Towers.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

ah, the impact these books had on me growing up! I had loved Enid Blyton, but had never read one of the St Clare's stories until I was 12 or so. I was at a sleepover, and my friend slept in for what felt like hours. Bored, I got up and pulled down the only book on her shelf that didn't look boring; and found myself lost in the world of St Clare's girls! I read the first book that weekend, and the following two the next two weekends. Years later, after my asking to borrow them every few months, my friend gave over the treasured books, and now they live on my shelves! How I love the simplistic life, the moral dilemmas, the food! St Clare's will have me coming back for many years to come, I hope. A great series to introduce someone to Enid's work, and one of the treasured memories from my ownchildhood.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kemarin ada yg tanya bagus mana seri #malorytowers atau #stclare Kebetulan saya baru selesai #reread dua buku MT dan satu SC, jadi saya kasih #minireview
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Karena keduanya bersetting di sekolah berasrama, jadi beberapa plot, tema dan karakter/wataknya nyaris sama. Intinya ada anak manja atau berperangai buruk yg dikirim bersekolah di tempat yg tidak mereka sukai. Setelah bbrp lama, tabiat mereka akan membaik.
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Di asrama tersebut ada guru Bahasa Prancis, siswa angkuh, kaya atau sok kaya, pencuri, anak berlidah tajam dan kocak. Tapi memang yg karakternya menonjol dan tajam adalah seri MT. Tiap anak karakternya jelas dan digambarkan dgn baik, misal Darrell yg pemarah, Alice yg usil sekaligus rada keji, Sally yg baik dan tegas, Gwendoline si kaya yg cengeng dan sukanya mengidolakan seseorang, Mary Lou yg penakut dan Daphne yg ternyata menyimpan rahasia kelam sebelum datang ke MT.
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Si kembar Pat dan Isabel wataknya tak jauh berbeda, hanya Pat kadang lebih berani dan pemberontak. Teman-teman mereka di St Clare karakterisasinya lebih smooth, dalam artian tidak ada yg menonjol sekali dan nyaris membaur antara si ini dan si anu. Tapi ini msh buku pertama, barangkali setelah baca ulang seluruh serinya, pendapat saya bisa berubah.
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I grew up reading #enidblyton books, jadi meski cerita petualangan dan cara penyelesaian kasus-kasusnya terbilang sederhana, saya tetap saja suka. Kalau ingin cerita/karakterisasi yg berwarna, saya rekomen seri sekolah asramanya, baik SC, MT atau seri si Badung. Bukunya Enid relatable, sepanjang masa, meski ditulis pada tahun 1941, 1946 dan 1947.

[Beth Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the twins at St Clare's - the adventures Pat and Isabel get up to are hilarious! My favourite part of the book was the midnight feast. It really was a feast aswell: bread, butter, pork pie, cake, sardines (ew), Nestles Milk, chocolate, peppermint creams, tinned pineapple AND ginger beer. "It beats the rest of the St Clare's feasts thats for sure!" I love this book because Enid Blyton really does show a passion for writing. The twins at St Clares are mystery and adventurous. They help to branch out reading and a good use of language is used. The characters perspectives are all different and they are from different backgrounds i.e poor and wealthy. Pat and Isabel settle in really well!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin sisters Isabel and Patricia O'Sullivan find themselves sent unwillingly to St. Clare's, rather than the more exclusive Ringmere School where their friends from primary school will be attending, after their parents notice that they are getting a bit conceited. Determined to make their mark, Isabel and Pat don't get off to a very good start, finding that of the girls in their dorm room, only Kathleen Gregory is willing to befriend them, as the others believe them to be snobs. They also run into trouble when Pat refuses to take orders from the older girls, and do the tasks assigned to her. Eventually they do integrate into the school more fully, and find themselves caught up in any number of experiences - participating in midnight feasts; campaigning against a particular mistress, and then relenting; helping to find and reform the girl-thief amongst the pupils; playing on the school lacrosse team - that make their first term so memorable...

Originally published in 1941, The Twins at St. Clare's is the first of six novels that the prolific Enid Blyton wrote about the O'Sullivan twins and their time away at St. Clare's school. Although well aware of the series, and the author, I had not picked this book up before it was assigned as a text in the class on the history of children's literature that I took, while getting my masters. I found it lots of fun, despite being well aware of its somewhat formulaic narrative, and copious use of common school story incidents and themes. Prior to reading it, the only other Blyton school story I had read was First Term at Malory Towers , which I did not find nearly so engaging. I thought the sisters were sympathetic characters, I enjoyed the twin-specific pranks they got up to, and I like that, although mischievous, they were not malicious. This last is important, especially in the incidents involving history mistress Miss Kennedy, whom the girls initially torment, until they discover that she is tempted to quit her job, despite needing it to help her seriously ill mother. As the twins say: "a joke's not a real joke when it means real unhappiness to somebody else."

Recommended to anyone who enjoys girls' school stories, or lighthearted children's literature in general.

[Tanaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Reading Enid blyton gives me immense pleasure as it brings back many childhood memories. I have fond memories of devouring each and every one of her books when I was young. Our library had all her books, and I am glad I grew up on a healthy diet of her books.
The food in these books is so yummy, I feel like I should also carry these food baskets and go picnicking! A treat for my soul during such pandemic where we are stuck in our homes.
I saw few similarities to Malory towers series, like the theft and how the twins hate it first at these schools but later on grow to love them, but over all I liked this one better.
Amazing book, a must read for all those who are still childlike at heart!

[I_am_a_cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the suspense this book created. But I don't think the chapters ended very well. They were too abrupt in my opinion.

[Marchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satu lagi serial mengenai kehidupan di sekolah asrama karangan Enid Blyton.

Patricia O'Sullivan alias Pat dan saudara kembarnya Isabel O'Sullivan dimasukkan ke St. Clare oleh orang tuanya. Awalnya mereka menolak dan bertekad untuk bersikap buruk sehingga mereka bisa pindah ke sekolah yang mereka inginkan. Tapi ternyata St. Clare memberikan mereka "pengalaman" yang tak pernah terlupakan.

Kedua anak kembar itu merupakan kepala murid di sekolah lama mereka, sehingga mereka terbiasa dipandang dan dihormati. Di St. Clare mereka berdua menjadi murid-murid termuda, dan harus melayani murid-murid dari dua kelas tertinggi.

Mula-mula Belinda Towers, anak kelas lima, memanggil mereka. Pat bersikap membandel dan tak mau datang, tapi Isabel agak melunak dan mendatangi Belinda. Di kamar Belinda, Isabel disuruh membersihkan sepatu Belinda dan Pamela Harrison (teman sekamar Belinda), menyalakan api dan menjerang air. Tapi Isabel tidak bisa melakukannya satu pun !!! Hihihihi, anak 14 tahun tidak bisa membersihkan sepatu dan memasak air ^^

Lalu kedua anak itu juga mendapat kesulitan dengan pelajaran bahasa Perancis. Suatu kali karangan mereka dikembalikan, dan mereka diharuskan membetulkan dan mengembalikan karangannya itu besok malam setelah makan malam. Karena sudah memesan tiket bioskop, mereka merasa sayang jika tak menonton. Mereka nekat pergi padahal sudah dilarang. Alhasil, mereka memang bisa mengerjakan karangan itu dan mengumpulkannya pada Mam'zelle pada saat tengah malam! Haduh, kedua anak ini konyol banget dah.

Seperti dalam Malory Towers, ada satu guru yang menjadi sasaran keisengan murid-murid. Di St. Clare, guru sejarah yang sebenarnya sedang sakit dan digantikan oleh temannya, Ibu Kennedy (Si Kenny, panggilan dari anak-anak kelas satu). Bu Kennedy sangat tidak tegas, dan selalu gagal menertibkan kelasnya. Jadi anak-anak menganggap asyik saja mengerjainya.

Janet, si anak biang usil, mendapat kiriman mercon dari saudaranya. Pada saat pelajaran sejarah, Janet memasukkan mercon-mercon tersebut ke pendiangan. Dan bisa dibayangkan rame dan kacaunya kelas tersebut. Tidak tahan dengan keadaan kelas, Bu Kennedy keluar ruangan dan berniat mengundurkan diri. Lalu saat Bu Roberts, wali kelas satu, masuk ke ruangan, mercon dalam jumlah banyak meletus. Wah, akibatnya satu kelas dihukum membersihkan kelas yang kotor dan menanggung biaya pembersihan cerobong, plus meminta maaf kepada Bu Kennedy.

Lalu Pesta Tengah Malam. Perkedel daging, kue coklat, sardin, susu kental, coklat, gula-gula pedas (kayak apaan sih ini?), biskuit, nenas dalam kaleng, limun jahe, roti, dan kue tar dengan lapisan yang enak (ahh apa nya yang enak nih..nda jelas >.<) serta bunga-bunga mawar warna jingga dan kuning terbuat dari gula di bagian atasnya.Nyam...^_^
Nah pesta tengah malam ini ketahuan oleh Bu Kennedy, namun tidak dilaporkan. Sejak saat itu anak-anak kelas satu menjadi baik perlakuannya kepada Bu Kennedy.

Ada juga masalah pencurian. Mula-mula uang Isabel hilang. Lalu 10 shilling milik Hillary ikut lenyap. Dan 5 shilling Janet juga hilang. Pelakunya akhirnya ketahuan saat hendak mencuri uang Rita George, anak kelas 6. Siapakah dia? Wuah nda disangka-sangka deh...

Keisengan kepada Bu Kennedy rupanya belum berhenti. Kali ini anak-anak kelas dua berhasil tahu Bu Kennedy ternyata takut sama kucing. Aduh, badung banget sih murid-murid St Clare.

Dan Sirkus Galliano disebut dalam buku ini. Janet, Kathleen, Pat & Isabel, bertemu Lotta, Jimmy, Lucky, dan Sammy si Simpanse. Apa itu Sirkus Galliano? Bagi yang penasaran, silahkan klik:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66...


Teman-teman sekamar Pat & Isabel:
Hilary Wentworth, sang ketua kelas & ketua kamar.
Janet Robins, tukang usil di kelas.
Kathleen Gregory
Doris Elward, juara paling bontot di kelas, namun bisa berdansa kocak.
Sheila Naylor, seorang anak yang orang tuanya kaya mendadak.
Vera Johns.

Guru-guru di St. Clare:
Miss Theobald, kepala sekolah
Miss Roberts, wali kelas satu
Matron, alias Ibu asrama
Miss Kennedy, guru sejarah sementara menggantikan Miss Lewis yang sakit
Miss Walker, guru kesenian
Mam'zelle, guru bahas Perancis. Karena seringnya mengatakan pekerjaan si Kembar Abominable, beliau dijuluki Mam'zelle Abominable !

[Kavita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan are being sent off to St. Clare's and they are not happy about it. It's not as posh as their old school and they are determined to have their own way. So they decide to be troublesome and take revenge. They eventually settle down happily after the first few incidents and by the end of the term, they have truly become one of the flock.

One of the interesting things is that St Clare's follows a fagging system, in which the younger girls run errands for the older ones. I had always more associated it with boys boarding schools, and it was interesting to see how it would be implemented in an all-girls' school. Blyton wrote this series in the 1940s and fagging was on its way out during this time. Earlier, it was more violent with older students being able to deal out corporate punishments, brought out in the Billy Bunter stories. In St Clare's, this is reduced to non-physical punishments. Their duties involved running small errands, cleaning shoes, making tea and sandwiches, sewing buttons on, etc.

All these the twins refuse to do at first, but soon enough, they blend in and accept the system. I would be interested to see how this progresses through the series.

*SPOILERS BELOW*

There are two girls whose stories are told, one of whom is Shiela Naylor, who is all high-and-mighty because of an inferiority complex. Turns out she is the daughter of a poor man who became rich. Well, the nouveau riche would have their hang-ups because your classist society is crap, Enid!

But the really weird one was the story of Kathleen George, whose father is out at sea and her aunt only gives her very little money. She resorts to stealing money to treat her friends. Finally, Miss Theobald solves the problem by informing her aunt that she has to "pay a proper amount of pocket money". Ehhhh? Where is the poor lady going to get that money from? What utter tosh! I am still bewildered at this so-called solution.

I enjoyed the book, and it's a great start to a great series. I think I like this better than the other ones because it's much more light-hearted.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved these when I was younger! My daughters have been listening to the audio book version at bedtime for ages so I picked up a couple of paperbacks from the library, I thought they'd like to experience reading them. They were delighted and have had to repeat myself constantly as their noses are in books and listening to Mum a low priority!

In addition, they've been playing "Boarding Schools" in the garden quite a bit over Easter holidays - I'm waiting to be asked if they can go to one!

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how it makes me want to be a little girl again and relive my school life entirely. I listened to it on audiobook and I could feel the whole school and the girls, with their naughtiness and haughtiness come to life. It was great great fun.

[Gouri Verma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite decent!! It is about two twins who are not willing to go to a new school, but as they meet new people, make friends, play pranks , they understand that it is not as boring as it looks like❤️
I really liked it and Enid Blyton fans will love it!!

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and again I get out one of my books I'd read in my childhood and this is one of them. What a delight to read again. I enjoyed it as much as I did all those years ago. Innocent times.

[Martina Suryanata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cerita St. Clare ini mirip2 Malory Towers, baik dari plot maupun karakter. Sayangnya karakter di St. Clare ga sekuat Malory Towers. Setelah buku pertama, Pat dan Isabel rasanya seperti tempelan aja, dengan karakternya yg baik2. Ga ada bedanya dengan Hilary. Karakter Bobby, Janet, dan Carlotta juga hampir sama.

Meskipun di tiap buku ada karakter baru yang menonjol (contoh: Margery, Angela), gw pengen karakter2 lama jangan lantas dilupain. Kalo bisa tetep dominan dan kuat. Tapi kalo dijadiin seperti yang gw mau, ntar jadi kaya kloningan Malory Towers ya ;p
Ini aja udah cukup kloningan, hahaha.

Tapii...gw tetep enjoy banget kok baca St.Clare ini. Alur ceritanya yang asik menutupi kelemahan karakternya, hehehe. Emang sebenernya ga lemah2 banget sih, cuma jadi kerasa nge-blend aja antara Si Kembar, Janet, Kathleen, Hilary, Bobby, Carlotta, dst...

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series as a kid and consequently crazed my parents to send me to boarding school

Yes the reread proves that actually it probably doesn't hold up compared to fiction published now but I do still love this series because it made me a compulsive reader.

[Pretty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irish girl twins in a girl dormitory school, enchanting youth

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanni and Nanni are great series for kids! I loved reading the book when I was younger and I am pretty sure I would enjoy them nowadays too if I would read them again. Maybe I do! ;-)

[Jennifer Saliba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A trip down memory lane, revisiting a favourite childhood author. I am obviously much older now :) so undeniably a lot of the magic has rubbed off but it was still a fun, sentimental read.

[Muhamad Tegar Pratama Putra · Rating 4 out of 5]

11-12 dengan seri gadis-gadis asramanya yang lain, Mallory Towers, Enyd Blyton kembali mengisahkan cerita remaja-remaja putri yang penuh lika liku suka duka selama bersekolah di asrama mereka. Menggunakan pendekatan ala Little Princess, kali ini protagonis utamanya adalah sepasang gadis kembar manja yang menyebalkan. Tapi hebatnya Blyton, ia menggulirkan plotnya terasa dinamis, seru dan menyenangkan, hingga dua cewek penggerutu ini pelan-pelan berubah menjadi karakter yang setia kawan, jujur dan simpatik. Walaupun kejahilan mereka tetap hadir dan mewarnai cerita. Ringan tapi tetap padat dan memberikan banyak nilai penting kehidupan, seri perdana St Clare ini, layaknya seri Mallory Towers, keduanya bak dua saudari yang menghibur untuk dibaca.

[Meg Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to love boarding school books from the 40s where the characters say things like “she’s an awful good sport” and “what a brick” as compliments.

I read this book when I was a kid and loved re-reading it. It has a real warmth to it and I enjoyed how it showed different characters becoming better people.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a children’s book, I know, but it is the epitome of ‘an oldie but a goodie’. Every time I read it, it makes boarding school and subsequent midnight feasts look so appealing.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, so sweet 🫶