Can a monster stop being a monster?

Bradley Chalkers
Not a Monster
Homework ripper
Last seat, Last row
Gold Star
Blackeye

Bradley is now more miserable than ever and needs Carla more than ever. Carla has confidence in Bradley and believes that he can change if he wants too. One of the most moving parts of the story is the discussion about monsters they share during their visits.

Bradley: " Well how does a monster stop being a monster?"
Carla: "I think, first, he has to realize for himself that he isn't a monster. That is the first step. Until he knows he isn't a monster, how is anybody else supposed to know?"

This is the changing point in the story. Bradley then tries to do the right thing even when nobody else trusts him. He even does his homework! Although, he doesn't have anough courage to turn it in and impulsively rips it up, because he is secretly scared of failing.
Carla senses Bradleys fear and is very encouraging and patient with Bradley and lends him a book to read for his book report.

Jeff and his friends begin ganging up on Bradley when Jeff mysteriously has a blackeye, which he proclaims is from Bradley(but is really from Melinda). Bradley avoids them at all costs until he has no choice but to confront them. But instead of fighting, Bradley simply says "Hello", which Jeff automatically recipricates ( because he can't Not say "Hello" once someone has said it to him). Jeff's friends then invite Bradley to play basketball and they drop the whole situation and continue playing ball together every recess.

At this point the parents of the school have a meeting complaining about what Carla does and how she is hurting and not helping thier children. The parents get even more upset when Carla does not tell them what their kids have said and one parent even remarks, "You don't have to keep promises to children."

I think that this statement alone shows how much Carla is needed as a counselor in the school.

Because of all the complaints Carla deciedes to leave and accepts a position at a nearby school as a kindergarten teahcer. When Bradley hears of this, he gets extremely upset because he feels that things will go worng if she goes away. Carla tries to comfort him, but Bradley refuses and leaves without saying goodbye. He also rips up his book report that he worked so hard on, just to spite her.
But Carla sees through the hurt that Bradley is feeling and tapes the book report together to give to his teacher Mrs. Ebbel.

When Bradley returns to class, he realizes that he has a gold star next to his name for his book report.