Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Hundred Dresses. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Wanda Petronski, a poor Polish American girl teased for claiming she has a hundred dresses at home, moves away before her classmates Peggy and Maddie can apologize. Her hundred dress drawings win the school art contest, and in a letter she gives Peggy and Maddie two drawings that, they realize, were designed to look like them.
Quick facts
– Book: The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
– First published: 1944
– Type: A children's novel
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Wanda wears the same faded blue dress every day. Popular Peggy asks her daily how many dresses she has, and Wanda says a hundred. Maddie, Peggy's poor friend, feels uncomfortable but says nothing.
What Happens at the End of The Hundred Dresses
One day Wanda stops coming to school. Her father writes that they are moving to a big city where no one will call them names. The class sees her hundred drawings and realizes she was talented. Maddie feels guilty and decides never to stay silent again. They write Wanda a letter. Weeks later, near the holidays, Wanda replies kindly, telling them to keep two drawings, one for each of them. When they look closely, Peggy and Maddie see that the dresses were drawn with their own faces.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Wanda moves away.
- Her drawings win.
- Maddie resolves to speak up.
- Wanda forgives them.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Wanda Petronski | Moves away |
| Peggy | Regrets teasing |
| Maddie | Resolves to speak up |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows the harm of bullying and the importance of speaking up.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers find Maddie's guilt powerful, because she never teased Wanda herself but stood by and said nothing. Eleanor Estes said the story came from her own regret about a classmate she failed to defend.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Bullying. Teasing hurts.
Kindness. Wanda's kindness.
Courage. Speaking up matters.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Hundred Dresses as bittersweet. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Eleanor Estes to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are bittersweet will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Eleanor Estes closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Hundred Dresses with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about bullying, and do you agree with Eleanor Estes's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as bittersweet, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces bullying and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Eleanor Estes leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Hundred Dresses often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Hundred Dresses earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Hundred Dresses?
Wanda Petronski, a poor Polish American girl teased for claiming she has a hundred dresses at home, moves away before her classmates Peggy and Maddie can apologize. Her hundred dress drawings win the school art contest, and in a letter she gives Peggy and Maddie two drawings that, they realize, were designed to look like them.
Is the ending of The Hundred Dresses happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet.
What does the ending of The Hundred Dresses mean?
The ending shows the harm of bullying and the importance of speaking up.
Who wrote The Hundred Dresses and when was it published?
The Hundred Dresses was written by Eleanor Estes and first published in 1944.
Is The Hundred Dresses worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy children's novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Eleanor Estes prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Hundred Dresses before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.