In A Monster Calls Conor grows through the tragic events of his life to become a stronger individual. Initially, Conor’s hope that his mother will get better is completely shattered by his father, teaching him that stories (and life) do not always end well. Conor realizes that, “Stories were wild, wild animals and went off in directions you couldn’t expect.” This event exposes Conor to the harsh reality of life, causing him to learn that life can be very tragic, much like stories. In addition, Conor is bullied by Harry, Anton, and Sully, which causes him to gather the courage to stand up for himself. The headmistress tells him after the incident that, “‘You put him in the hospital...You broke his arm, his nose.’” Although Conor goes about
