My overall opinion of the book....

I chose this book because the title was catchy. I'm not a fan of reading but I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to read more. As a future teacher this book made me ask questions such as "what would I do if I had a Bradley in my class?" I think this is a book that all education majors should read because Miss Davis is the true image of what a good teacher should be like. It also shows that children can and will change with the proper guidance.

Chapters 41 - 47

This was the best part of the book. I must admit it made me cry!!

Bradley was supposed to meet Miss Davis at the school to help her pack up her office but he didn't make it in time. She left him the sweetest letter that brought me to tears. Bradley ended up going to Colleen's birthaday party after all and he had a blast. He then wrote Miss Davis a really sweet letter back and gave her his favorite toy animal "Robbie". This was another part that made me cry because he had turned into a comletely different person. I think now everyone was able to see the good in Bradley, even Mrs. Ebbel. Throughout the book Mrs. Ebbel didn't seem to care much for Bradley and she did't try to make the students like him either. She talked negatively about him in front of other teachers and students. It was as if as long as Bradley didn't bother her, she wouldn't bother him. Almost as if he didn't exist. For a while I thought she should change her profession because this is not the way a teacher should be. Even though the book didn't say, I think she learned to like Bradley too.

Chapters 31 - 40

Everything seemed to be looking up for Bradley Chalkers. He was doing his homework, being nicer to others, he and Jeff made up and he even made some new friends. His father taught him how to dribble and Colleen even invited him to her party. Things couldn't have been better until he got the bad news....

The Concerned Parents Committee for the school were very displeased with Miss Davis (Carla). They wanted her to be fired because they felt she served no purpose and should not be talking with their children. Miss Davis is eventually transferred to another school and Bradley is devastated. He no longer wanted to do his work, he didn't want any friends and thought Carla was a liar. He's beginning to turn back into the old Bradley!!

I feel so sorry for Bradley. I think Carla working with him really helped his self-esteem and he wanted to do better. She was the only one who was able to find the good in him. I also feel sorry for Carla because I believe she was really making a difference in the school, not only for Bradley, but for the other students as well. It is such a shame that the parents can't see past her looks and age to see how much of a impact she was making. I think so often we are too quick to judge a book by it's cover and not find out what it is all about. There needs to be more teachers like Carla who shows a genuine concern for students.

Chapters 21 - 30

Bradly is beginning to make a complete turn around. He now tells the truth and attempts to do better in school. He really wants for people to see that he is a good person and not a monster. He has even learned to like and trust Carla. Even his sister is stating to be nicer to him by helping him with his homework. I think up to this point Bradley has just been misunderstood. He seems like he really can be a good kid, he just needs someone to show that they care.

Jeff has switched places with Bradley. He has become a mean little trouble maker and some of the kids have started not to like him. He even tries to help beat up Bradley.

Carla is trying very hard to help Bradley become a better person. I think she is one of the only people who really understands him. Every child needs to have a teacher like her in their life.

Chapters 11 - 20

Colleen is having trouble trying to decide who to invite to her party. She wants to invite Jeff because she likes him, but she doen't want him to be the only boy at her party. Colleen thinks it is a good idea to invite one of Jeff 's friends, but the only friend he has is Bradley and she doesn't want to invite him. How will she solve her problem?

Bradley and Jeff are becoming closer friends, infact they decide to do homework together. Bradley wants Jeff to help him beat up Lori, Melinda and Colleen but Jeff doesn't want to. Bradley's plan to beat up the girls backfires when Melinda ends up punching him and making him cry instead. After this happens Bradley is upset with Jeff (I guess because he didn't help him) and tells his mother Jeff gave him the black eye. He eventually gets over it and wants to be friends again.

Jeff becomes friends with Robbie, who used to call Jeff names, and some other boys from his class. They want to be Jeff 's friend because they think he is the one who gave Bradley the black eye. Jeff ditches Bradley for his new friends and seems to be becoming a not so nice person. He even begins telling lies to the counselor.

Although Bradley tries not to show it, I believe it really hurt him that Jeff didn't want to be friends anymore. After all he was his only friend.

Colleen's problem has also been solved. Since Jeff and Bradley are no longer friends, she doesn't have to invite Bradley to her party.

I really feel sorry for this kid!! I feel he has low self-esteem and he believes he can't excel. He tries to push everyone away to avoid being hurt. I wish I knew what made him this way. So many times teachers write students off as a problem child without finding the root of the problem.

Chapters 1 - 10

Bradley is a trouble maker and does't have any friends until Jeff moves to town. Bradley is also not doing very well in school and doesn't want his parents to find out. He seems to have a very vivid imagination and can come up with good plots, schemes and lies. although he causes a lot of trouble he also seems to have a sensitive side, like when he plays with his animals in his room.

Jeff is trying to find the couselor's office and accidentally walks in the girl's bathroom. He is seen by Colleen and he is so embarrassed. What makes this funny is that Colleen seems to have a crush on him.

I'm not quite sure what I think of Bradley just yet! I've seen his kind before and I'm trying to seek out his agenda.

Main Characters

Bradley Chalkers: Seems to be the trouble maker in the class, infact he seems to be the trouble maker in the school. No one likes him nor does he seem to like anybody. Although he seems to be a BAD child, he is also very funny. His favorite line to say when he's telling a lie is "Ask them if you don't believe me!"

Jeff Fishkin: He is the new kid in school. He seems to be the only one who has the courage and wants to make friends with Bradley. Sometimes you cannot tell if he really likes Bradley or just feels sorry for him. Maybe he sees something in Bradley that the others do not.

Miss Carla Davis: She is the new school counselor. She is young, very pretty and dresses like she is one of the students. Jeff really likes her but Bradley does not, or atleast he pretends he does't.

Mrs. Ebbel: She is Bradley and Jeff 's teacher. She knows the students in her class do not like Bradley and I really do not think she cares for him either. She probably wishes she could send him way.

Mrs Chalkers: She is Bradley's mother. Mrs. Chalkers knows her son has some behavior problems, but like most mothers she wishes and sometimes tries to pretend he is the perfect son.

Mr. Chalkers: He is Bradley's father who works for the police department and seems to be the disciplinarian

Claudia: She is Bradley's older sister who likes to pick on him. I think they both get on each others nerves.

Colleen: A girl in the school who witnessed Jeff walk into the girl's bathroom, and whom I believe has a crush on him.

Melinda and Lori: Colleen's bestfriends who also do not like Bradley Chalkers.