After the bright, cruel morning, Maddie cannot stop thinking about the game. That night she lies awake, troubled, knowing in her heart that it is wrong. She decides she will do something at last: she will write a note to Peggy — not a bold one, just a gentle note asking whether they might stop teasing Wanda. But then a cold fear creeps in. She imagines Peggy’s surprise turning to scorn, and the whole class laughing at poor Maddie in her faded hand-me-down clothes. What if she became the next target? Frightened, she never sends the note. She tells herself that Peggy is a good person who would never really do wrong, and tries to push the whole thing out of her mind. Maddie has become a bystander: she sees the wrong clearly, wishes with all her heart that it would end — and is still too afraid to speak.
| Focus | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Theme | The story’s big idea — the cost of staying silent, the meaning of courage |
| Foreshadowing | An early hint of what is to come — the note Maddie cannot send |
| Tone | The author’s attitude toward Maddie — gentle, honest, never mocking |
| Chapter | Key Events |
|---|---|
| Ch. 3 — A Bright Blue Day (continued) | Troubled by the teasing, Maddie decides to write a note asking Peggy to stop — but fear stops her. She imagines becoming the next target and never sends it, telling herself Peggy means no real harm. She has become a bystander: she sees the wrong but stays silent. |
There are no wrong answers here — just think, guess, and talk:
- Have you ever wanted to speak up about something unfair but felt too afraid? What held you back?
- Maddie writes a note but never sends it. Is wanting to do right the same as doing it? Why or why not?
- Predict: what do you think will finally push Maddie to act — and will it come in time?
This is an independent study guide created by Garden Heights Academy to support reading comprehension and literary analysis. It contains original analysis questions and does not reproduce any text from the novel. The Hundred Dresses is a work by Eleanor Estes. This guide is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by the author or any associated rights holder.
- She decides to write a gentle note to Peggy.
- Fear of being teased next stops her hand.
- She never sends it, and stays a silent bystander.
- Maddie lies awake, troubled by the game.
- Her conscience tells her the teasing is wrong.
When someone is treated unkindly, there are usually three kinds of people present: the one doing the harm, the one being harmed, and the many who simply watch. Those who watch are called bystanders, and they matter far more than they think. A bystander often feels that the trouble is not really their concern, and that staying quiet is the safe, sensible choice. But quiet has a price, and the person being harmed is the one who pays it. Silence can look, to everyone watching, like agreement, and agreement from a whole group is what makes unkindness feel allowed. Studies of school life show something hopeful, though: when even one bystander speaks up to defend the person, a single voice saying stop, the unkindness very often ends. It takes real courage, because the one who speaks risks being laughed at too. Yet that one brave decision can rescue another person from a great deal of pain.
“And so, saying nothing at all, Maddie became part of the very unkindness she wished would stop.”
This writing task is optional and is not part of your auto-graded score. The feedback below checks only the basics — length, spelling, and grammar — not whether your ideas are right or wrong. It is meant for classroom discussion and creative practice, so feel free to use your imagination!
Writing Task — Part 4 “The Note Maddie Never Sent”
Maddie writes a note to Peggy but is too afraid to send it. Write the note you think Maddie wanted to send. What would she say to Peggy about the game and about Wanda? Be honest and kind, the way Maddie wishes she could be. Write at least 40 words.
No right or wrong — close the screen and tell someone nearby what a ‘bystander’ is, and why Maddie stays silent even though she knows the game is wrong. Can’t find anyone? Tell yourself out loud. The moment you teach it, you truly understand it.
Part 4 Complete!
You finished Chapter 3 of The Hundred Dresses.
Here are your auto-graded results:
The best last step is to teach it. In your own words, explain what happened — retell a favorite scene, teach a character’s big choice, or sum up the main idea for a parent, friend, or classmate. When you can teach it clearly, you truly own it.
Independent study guide by Garden Heights Academy. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the author or any rights holders. Contains original analysis only; no text from the novel is reproduced.