The Hundred Dresses
by Eleanor Estes
- Lexile
- 870L
- Grade range
- Grades 3–5
- Age range
- Ages 8–11
- Pages
- 80
- First published
- 1944
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780152052607
About this book
Wanda Petronski, a poor Polish-immigrant girl, is teased by classmates for claiming to own a hundred dresses — until they discover what she meant. Estes's Newbery Honor novella is a staple of 3rd-5th grade anti-bullying units.
Themes
- bullying
- immigrant experience
- regret
- compassion
- standing up
Content notes
- bullying
- ethnic stereotyping
Common Sense Media recommends age 8+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 3rd gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B — anti-bullying exemplar
- recommended· 4th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 Newbery Honor
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is The Hundred Dresses?
- The Hundred Dresses is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–5, with a Lexile measure of 870L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of The Hundred Dresses?
- The Hundred Dresses has a Lexile measure of 870L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign The Hundred Dresses?
- The Hundred Dresses appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Hundred Dresses banned in schools?
- The Hundred Dresses does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does The Hundred Dresses explore?
- Central themes in The Hundred Dresses include bullying, immigrant experience, regret, compassion, standing up. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.