Claudine at St Clare's. Enid Blyton

I was given box sets of both the St Clares and Malory Towers series as a child and loved both and read them over and over again (to the point where the books were literally falling apart). I am in the process of re-discovering these books as I have purchased them for my 10 year old daughter (normally a reluctant reader who has already said she intends going back and reading the books from the beginning once we finish the series the first time). Of the series, Claudine at St Clares is probably my favourite. As fourth formers, the girls are still young enough to get up to plenty of hijinks (particularly with the irreverent Claudine on the scene). However unlike the earlier books, this book also deals with more complex concerns such as wealth and class through characters such as the snobby Angela, Eileen the matron's daughter and Pauline who goes to elaborate lengths to hide her poor background. Claudine's 'French ways' provides lots of opportunities for Blyton to comment on the English 'sense of honour' and various French peculiarities which could be considered obnoxious but arev quite funny to read almost 70 years on. All in all a very entertaining book for all ages.

When i first found this book at my home,i thought nothing of Enid Blyton.Why, she writes stories meant for young children when i'm already 13? I brought the book to school the next day,and must say,Blyton really lived up to her name-she's a great author.In this series of St.Clare's,a new girl by the name of Claudine,the niece of the French headmistress,arrived from France.Here,she brought joy and fun to the fourth-formers.She creates havoc,lots of funny antics that will definitely set you laughing.Like the one when she actually lock the Matron into an old cupboard!But,there are,sad,poignant parts which set you teary-eyed.Like the one when the Matron's daughter,Eileen,had to left school.Her tale is sad...This book is absolutely worth reading.

I grew up on a staple diet of Enid Blyton books. Between the ages of 5-10 I must have read just about everything she ever wrote! Still, the St Clare's series stands out as some of her best work. Out of all the St Clare's books, this one is my favourite. While we get the return of the main crew of the O'Sullivan twins, Janet and Bobby the pranksters and Hilary Wentworth the head of form, this book brings in some of the most colorful characters in the series. Here, with the girls all moving up into the fourth form, we meet characters like Claudine and the Honorable Angela Favorleigh for the first time. Claudine is a little french girl, coincidentally also Mamzelle's niece from France. She provides a lot of laughs with her genuine befuddlement at the English ideas of honor and honesty and manages to endear just about everyone. Angela on the other hand, is a little rich princess who becomes the new object of class bimbo Alison's affection. With lots of other great characters, this book, like the rest of the books in the series kept me thoroughly entertained the first time I read it at the age of 7, and didnt disappoint even when I decided to re-read it a while back at the age of 17. A must read for any true lover of Blyton's books!