Dress Coded

Letters are a recurring motif in the novel, with official communication being sent by Fisher Middle School or board chair Mae Dunn, and imaginary letters (and one physical one) being written by Molly—the latter of which offer a glimpse into her inner world. As a storytelling technique, the letters convey important information succinctly, such as Danny having always been a “sad” child, or why other students don’t interact with Tom anymore. The letters also shed light on Molly’s character. For example, her imaginary letter to her first-grade Daisy Troop asks them to be kinder to Megan, and the letter to Dr. Couchman asserts the dress code issue is about more than clothes—framing Molly as a righteous person. The contrast between school-related letters and Molly’s letters further highlights how clinical and insensitive authority figures can be, and why Molly and her friends’ protest is justified.

The only physical letter Molly sends is Danny’s letter, in which she explains why she won’t try to improve their relationship anymore. This letter is significant, as it shows character growth: Molly is asserting herself at school and at home. Molly is experiencing the Transition From Childhood to Adolescence and embodying The Power of Peaceful Protest. Through a podcast and letters, she uses creativity to make a point. She even uses her imaginary letter-writing skill to write a real petition.