Jean's Reviews > The hundred dresses

Although this book was first published in 1944, its topic of teasing and bullying is still relevant, especially in its portrayal of the "mean girls" who lead the pack. I suppose kids today bully others who are different, just not different in the way Wanda is. She is a poor Polish girl who has only one dress to wear to school every day. Reason #1 to make fun of her. Reason #2: She has a Polish name, Petronsky. And Reason #3: she is quiet and shy, and does not stand up for herself. Bottom line: kids make fun of others who are different. At least the two girls who are the most frequent teasers begin to have a bit of a conscience. That is a redeemable, though not quite believable consequence. My experience is girls like this always have a ready excuse, a justification, and no acceptance of responsibility.