Did you love boarding school books? If so tell us why for chance to win a tennis-themed prize worth over £100 incl Trebizon books + tennis garden set

[SorchaMumsnet]

To celebrate the release of The Tennis Term at Trebizon, we're offering you a chance to win a set of the classic Trebizon series by Anne Digby and a great way to play tennis in the garden.

This delightful series follows the adventures of Rebecca and her friends through their time at Trebizon boarding school and the ups and downs of friendship. In the latest book, The Tennis Term at Trebizon, Rebecca has been picked for the tennis team, and Trebizon has high hopes of winning the cup. But then there’s a hoax phone call, and a fake fire alarm, and Rebecca finds herself under suspicion. If Rebecca and her friends can’t solve the mystery, there will be serious consequences...

“As warm and comforting as a cup of cocoa, the Trebizon books are a real treat” – Katherine Woodfine, author of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow

Did you love boarding school books? If so tell us why for a chance to win this fab tennis-themed prize worth over £100: a set of SEVEN Trebizon books including The Tennis Term at Trebizon PLUS a tennis garden set!

This discussion is sponsored by Egmont and will end 1 August

[BelfastSmile]

I loved that they had strong female characters, who were smart, or sporty, or loyal or whatever. It always seemed that the girls were able to solve their problems themselves, with support from adults but without being absolutely dependant on them.

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

I didn't know Trebizon was being re-released. I still have the originals, figured one day they might be antiques...?!

I loved all the boarding school series, as re-read now for comfort when needed.

[Ashhead24]

Yes, especially Enid Blyton. Its the autonomy and control over your own life that really appeared to me as a young teen.

[izzy76]

I loved reading Mallory Towers by Enid Blyton when I was a little girl

[CMOTDibbler]

I've loved girls school stories since I found my aunts left behind Chalet school books at my grandparents house. They are just so safe and lovely - you know the sneak will be taken down a peg or two, the swot will find a life outside the books, the vain one will find a truth in an accident and so on. And I loved the idea of a world of women

[Snowfedup]

I loved the chalet school first, then moved on to Trebizond, boarding school seemed like such fun and I thought the girls were tough and strong and like them I hated girls who were 'wet'! I went to an all girls secondary school and found most of my classmates a terrible disappointment, they were giggly and only interested in boys and makeup. Thankfully I held out and eventually found some good friends who were a lot more interesting :)

[liz1970]

Yes i used to read all the Enid Blyton books when i was young.These included Mallory towers :)

[purplevamp]

I've never heard of these books before. am I the only one?

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

I loved reading the Enid Blyton boarding school books as a child, particularly the St Claire's ones. I think I found them fascinating because I knew my father went to boarding school and it always seemed to me somehow exotic. Thinking about it now, those books have stayed with me, as even now I am fascinated by boarding schools. I work near one and I often find myself staring at the children wondering what it feels like to have such independence from your family at such a young age.

[sweir1]

yes they are fab

[Wordsaremything]

I loved Mallory Towers and St Clare's . They offered this forbidden, almost exotic world of adventure , and accomplishment, mixed with chumminess .

I loved pony and ballet books for the same reason. Enjoyed vicariously as I was an isolated and socially awkward child. I think they were marketed cleverly at little girls like that.

In contrast Rowling has combined various elements of this in an unholy yet commercially lucrative brew which scrapes the bottom of all barrels. Have you read her stuff? It's awful. Awful. And touted as literature.

[FeelingSmurfy]

I loved them and fantasised about going to one, in reality I am a home bird and it never could have happened!

I remember them being about midnight feasts, always being with your friends etc though, nothing about the teaching or any of the boring stuff.

[WhatchaMaCalllit]

I loved the Trebizon series of books as a kid as I was the youngest of 4 girls and there was such a difference in ages between me and my sisters that I used to read the books and imagine that I was Rebecca and that the characters in the books were my friends. It was a great way to escape reality for a short while as a young girl.

I've been trying desperately to find these books for my daughter to read, as I gave away my set stupid, I know

Can someone tell me if these have been 'modernised' or if they have the same text as the ones 30-or so years ago had?

[star1000]

I thought they were a great read, and would be glued to a book like this. So much fun and adventures are had, reading them made me want to go to one although I'm sure the reality is quite different. My daughter would love reading these ones.

[LittleReindeerwithcloggson]

I loved boarding school books as a child and still dip into them now. Looking forward to the time when DDs want to read them too.
To a child it seems a perfect world. Surrounded by friends in a beautiful environment where life is about fun and getting on. Girls are fun to be around - no bitchiness or nastiness- and those that don't fit in always see the error of their ways and reform!
Parents aren't mentioned much and the girls are independent.
In all books there is usually a character you really identify with or want to be.
It's pure escapism. Love it!

[mazgoli]

I loved Mallory Towers and Chalet School for the sheer escapism. They seemed like such fun places to be. I never came across Trebizon as a child, perhaps it was after my time. I'd love to win this set for my grandchildren.

[FoxInABox]

I always loved the sense of adventure and belonging. It was a different type of family, that went hand in hand with mysteries and lots of fun.

[Bebelala21]

I wanted to go to Mallory Towers or the school from the Naughtiest Girl and have midnight swims. I also wanted a tuck box even though I had no idea back then what tuck was.

[simone12345]

l loved Mallory Towers and St. Claires, and The Naughtiest Girl in the School, all by Enid Blyton they were a bit of fantasy wish it was me in all the adventures

[thanksamillion]

I loved Trebizon and have been looking for them for my DD who's enjoyed Mallory Towers. I think I liked them because they were more up to date than most of the boarding genre. I definitely wanted to go to boarding school and so does DD. It was a possibility for a while for her and I was a bit worried that she'd have unrealistic expectations from her reading!

[oneofthegiantsisme]

I loved the Chalet School books, and desperately wanted to go to boarding school as it looked so much more fun than my boring school - especially the Austrian ones. I think my love of foreign languages probably started there!
I've introduced my daughter to them, and if anything she is even more obsessed than I was.
I never read Trebizon as a child, so would love to visit now.

[Camelle]

Oh what a blast from the past! LOVED Trebizon - such an exotic, alien, tennis-filled world, with people called Ishbel! Also loved Malory Towers and St Clare's (although thought some of the girls were not very nice to the others). Read, re-read, re-re-read.. though all from the library, never my own to pass on. Great thread + great comp.

[ann28]

Yes, great escapism!!!

[kateandme]

weirdly I used to love them! I ued to think they were this great place where girls got up to mischief and made great friends and the teachers were like another dozen mums.(thw worst witch coming out didn't help haha) yet id never ever dream of going or sending my kids to one.
the books somehow offered a more exciting time to my own school life.but again if someone actually said I was going to boarding school...no no no!!!!

[mogloveseggs]

Always wanted to go to boarding school. Looking back I'd have probably hated it mind, but the books made it seem so glamorous-midnight feasts, school swimming pools, everything a bog standard northern primary didn't have. We have some of the malory towers audio cds and I still listen in the car now at 36