Books › Summer Term at St. Clare's
Summer Term at St. Clare's
First published 1990 · 192 pages
A sunlit, spirited romp through the dormitories and playing fields of a classic mid-century boarding school.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a sunlit, enclosed world where the biggest stakes are a midnight feast, a lost temper, or a secret kept from the headmistress. The pace is brisk and episodic, bouncing cheerfully from tennis matches to classroom pranks with an infectious, breathless energy. Its mood is deeply nostalgic and cozy, wrapping the reader in the comforting rhythms of term time and the fierce, fleeting loyalties of youth. The prose is simple and earnest, wearing its moral lessons about fairness and friendship proudly on its sleeve. It is a perfect, comforting escape for anyone who loves the bustling, spirited atmosphere of classic boarding school stories, offering a delightful retreat into a simpler, highly structured world of mischief and camaraderie.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- cozy
- bustling
- nostalgic
- Tone
- cheerful
- earnest
- spirited
- mildly moralistic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- schoolgirl honor · friendship and loyalty · overcoming prejudice · the joy of shared secrets
- The writing
- The writing is straightforward, energetic, and heavily dialogue-driven, capturing the breathless excitement of youth.
- The arc
- The story bounces through the lively ups and downs of term time, building from interpersonal friction to a heartwarming reaffirmation of friendship and fair play.
- Who it's for
- Perfect for readers who crave the comforting, enclosed world of classic boarding school dramas filled with midnight feasts and moral lessons.
Content notes
- mild bullying
- outdated social attitudes
About the book
Pat and Isabel look forward to their first summer term at St Clare's. They soon make friends with new girl Carlotta, who has a secret past that she's desperate to hide. But sneaky Prudence finds out and tells everybody. How will the class react? There'll be mischief at St. Clare's!
Description from Open Library.
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