Tackle the Text: The Case of the Mysterious Money

How do you think Amanda got the money? Was it intended only as mortgage money, or did Amanda have something else in mind?

46 responses

1. _Amanda_ 01.08.2010

   I think the money was definitely intended to be mortgage money. Especially since it was the exact amount that you needed.  I think she got the money because she is very wealthy. It only makes scence, she had enough money to go to Paris where those French girls saw her. She also has had enough money to probably move around a lot and to pull off her scheme.

2. fizzy79 01.08.2010

   Amanda is definetly a mystery, no doubt about that. She’s smart enough to figure out a way to bring you, Hal, and Nia together but couldn’t she find out a way to do that without getting all of you in trouble? It doesn’t make sense. And where in the world did she get that money? My hypothesis is that she is a millionaire and took that money out of her bank account. I don’t think she stole the money.

3. CactusDove 01.08.2010

   Amanda is definitely confusing. I think it would be ridiculous to think she stole the money, though. I mean, she’s diabolical, but unlawful? Hardly. A criminal? Doubtful. In any case, like fizzy79 said, ‘Amanda is a mystery’. She could’ve gotten the money from anywhere; she certainly is resourceful enough. In any case, I’m starting to think that Amanda had something else in mind. Mortgage money can always be discussed and negotiated, especially if you hire a lawyer. Amanda most likely sent that money for you to save YOURSELF not your family. After all, if you were going to save your family, how would you do that if you’re ‘drowning’? Like I said, save yourself, then go back for the rest of ‘em.
   Then again, I could be wrong. Who ever knows with Amanda?

4. Gemstar 01.08.2010

   Amanda isn’t crazy enough or despret enough to steal over 2 thousand dollars. Since she didn’t steal the money, she must have gotten it from someone as a gift, or be a millionaire herself. Or, if you want to go with the non-human theory, she had no need for money and had created it or gathered it mystically. I’m for the gift theory. Amanda’d charmed so many people, who’s to say she hadn’t made friends with a few elderly rich folk? Mabey they gave her money, or left some to her when they died. I don’t know. Amanda probably left her the money for the morgage, since it was the right amount and because of Amanda’s whim-zical nature.

5. Layla 01.09.2010

   I agree that Amanda most likely did NOT steal the money from a bank or anyone else.  Like what CactusDove said: ‘She’s diabolical, but unlawful? Hardly. A criminal? Doubtful.’  I totally agree.
   I also don’t think that Amanda gave Callie for the mortgage.  It doesn’t seem like Callie to make anything that obvious—or easy.  If she wants to leave a trail of clues behind for the four of them, why shouldn’t this be one?  It might not seem like a lot to work with but, knowing Amanda, there’s probably some way that the money is connected to finding her.  However, if the money IS for the mortgage, I think it’s not for the sake of their home, but for the sake of Callie and her father’s relationship.  If the drawings on the car were done to bring Hall, Nia, and Callie together, why shouldn’t she also bring Callie and her father closer?  Just thinking..

6. Layla 01.09.2010

   **I meant it’s not like AMANDA.  Not Callie.  So sorry.
   And continuing on with my idea of Amanda wanting to bring Callie and her father together.  That seems to be her main purpose so far: to bring people together and help them out in unexpected ways. For all we know, Hal and Nia might have needed Amanda’s help just as much as Callie did, just for different reasons.  But like I said before, just trying to think of ideas..

7. Strawbezz 01.09.2010

   I think Amanda knows Callie’s mom and told her about the mortgage problem. Those two characters seem connected. So, because Callie’s mom loves her family and had to leave, she gave Amanda the money to give to Callie.
   This could mean that Amanda wanted Callie to know someone out there still cares for her that she shouldn’t blame for leaving. But I guess there’s two people who have left her (Amanda and her mom) but both can’t be blamed for some reason we don’t know. That’s why I’m assuming Callie’s mom and Amanda are connected.

8. teenage.poet 01.09.2010

   I agree with most things said here, but why exactly would Amamda give callie the exact amount of money for the mortgage, if she didn’t mean for it to be used that way? None of this makes any sense… But then again, when does Amanda ever make sense? It seems that she tries very hard not to make sense. Or maybe she thinks that everyone is on the same level as her intellectually, but we aren’t as smart as she thought? Only time will tell I guess…

9. PoshKat 01.09.2010

   hmmmmm… I think I agree with Strawbezz, I think the money came from Callie’s mum. I mean, I didn’t know Amanda that well but from what I’ve heard she doesn’t seem the type to steal.

10. Na5na 01.09.2010

    hmmmm… *hi5 PoshKat* :D Well, i think Amanda is a LIARRR. But she probably isn’t criminal, right? .....RIGHT?! If i’d met the real Amanda Valentino,  i would definitely not trust her. But i would like her, since she’s a really good friend. She’s probably rich or something. Howeverrr, why do you even bother looking for her? It’s not like she’s dead or something (i hope not), but she might’ve just changed schools and forgot to tell you. It’s possible. I don’t think her name is Amanda anyway. I think i’ll call her “un-named” :D Oh well. I guess i’ll get quite a lot of hate comments, and be told off. Well, i don’t care that much, it’s adds flavour and stupidity to the story :D Anyways, i love the book:) x, Na5na—the 5 is silent. P.S. ...don’t hate me cause i have opinions xD

11. winter_girl 01.09.2010

    I agreed that the money wasfor the mortgage and that callies mum and amanda are connected, and theres a strong possibility te money as given amanda by callies mum or someone connecting both of these people. I also agree with Na5na that Amada is not her name, I mean she toldthat old couple she was callies and the condo lady she was cloe, so it wouldnt be a far stretch to assume that amanda is not her real name. With no paper trail either. I think that callies mum was working for some sort of covert angency and that amanda also works forthem, and that Mr Thornhill was there handler.

12. miss_ceceb 01.09.2010

    I think thee money was most definately for thee mortgage, because if callie and her dad leave Orion she hal and nia wouldn’t be able to come together and solve amandas psycho mystery. While I don’t think she stole it I don’t think it was attainted on the up and up. But we all know amanda is gonna do what she thinks she needs to t

13. miss_ceceb 01.09.2010

    *to keep this thing going
    sorry for the cut off XD

14. Milana 01.09.2010

    It was the exact amount of money Callie needed, and while Amanda can leave us grasping at straws, she most definately left it for the mortgage.  She wanted Callie, Nia, and Hal to help find her, and they couldn’t do that if one of them had to move away.

15. dem_94 01.09.2010

    I agree that somehow Callie’s mom, and Amanda are connected with the money. I defiantly don’t think Amanda stole it. You have to have uite a bit of money to move around all time and do everything Amanda did. But Amanda doesn’t strike me as someone who would pull off a big time crime (Although she probably could if she wanted).

    I’m not really sure if the money was intended to be for the mortage. Maybe Amanda’s trying to say “You can go pay the mortage or you could ...” I think she’s testing Callie somehow to see what she’ll choose to do.

16. anailovesyouu 01.09.2010

    Something else in mind. It is all too simple for her just to help Callie for her house, how is that related to the “Please Help Us.” note in the car? Maybe it is for a plane ride for Callie, Nia, & Hal to go somewhere. Maybe the clues just aren’t in the same town, it’s too simple. Amanda is unpredictable, she could have people planting the notes. And if she was in the same town, she’d be bound to be notice…. wouldn’t she? Think about it.

    -Anai.

17. stella94 01.09.2010

    While I knew Amanda, she was definitely a liar. But she didn’t call it lying. She called it “expanding the truth a bit”. But I never knew her to steal anything. In fact, I watched her catch a thief one day and return something he’d stolen- some sort of expensive watch- and give it back instead to the man he stole it from. I mean, nobody saw her apprehend the child but me. She could have kept it. But she didn’t.

    About the money—Amanda was always into the whole “giving you a chance to do something” thing. As in, if you give something to somebody else, it leaves the the chance to do whatever they need to with their new resource. Amanda left Callie the perfect amount for the mortgage. But if Callie wanted to use it a different way, it’s entirely possible that was the intention as well.

18. mingakatara 01.09.2010

    I think that it was most likely mortgage money.  Amanda needed you in reach so she could keep the three of your together.  Amanda left Callie the perfect amount for the mortgage.  Amanda needed Callie in her clutches, and the only way to do that is to do that is to keep you where you are.

19. themidnighter 01.09.2010

    When it comes to Amanda,we’re not really sure about anything. But I think the money is for Callie’s mortgage. In the book we already know that Amanda knew Callie’s problems. I think Amanda even knew Callie better than herself,though no offense to you Callie. But Amanda definitely didn’t steal the money. She wouldn’t go that far. Maybe the money came from her bank account. We did saw this picture—>

    http://www.theamandaproject.com/clues/bank-of-orion-security-cam

    Something tells me that,that was really Amanda. Maybe she was withdrawing the money that she would be able to give to Callie afterwards. Because we don’t really know Amanda’s past. Maybe she has her family’s fortune or something,right? Like what I said earlier…when it comes to Amanda,we’re not really sure about anything.

20. pete1994 01.10.2010

    Amanda has done a lot of things that seemed like one thing but meant another. The money isn’t for the mortgage. Just look at your dad. After you found the money, he started caring for things again, without ever using it. The money has a double meaning. It meant to bring your family hope, and also, just maybe, to help Amanda out of what trouble she is in.

21. ♥MLE♥ 01.10.2010

    I am totally with all those ppl who said it was a connections with callie’s mom and Amanda. I have this suspition that they are both connected in this mystery. MAybe Callie’s mom told Amanda to get the money out of her account to give to Callie becuase Callie’s mom can’t get information to Callie. Maybe Amanda was sent my Callie’s mom to act as mediator so that she would be found or something like that….. any thing really is possible… It’s Amanda we are talking about right? She does some pretty strange things….. :P

22. alicewriter13 01.10.2010

    I think that there definately is a connection between Amanda and Callie’s mom.  Amanda already brought Hal, Nia, and Callie together and had already left other clues to get them to trust each other.  I think the money has something to do with the mortgage, most likely.  But another idea that has already been mentioned is that it could be to help them find her.  But i think another very possible alternative is that it is intended to help make communication with Callie’s mom, or maybe find where Callie’s mom even is.  Maybe Amanda knows where Callie’s mom, but she didn’t know about the note that Callie found saying that it would endanger Callie to tell her goodbye.

23. *SugGAHiPpY* 01.11.2010

    OH MY GOSH!
    I just had a light bulb moment!What if Amanda went find Callie’s mom to help her out of the dark time with her and her father.What if Amanda ACTUALLY found Callie’s mom and told her about the money shortage with Callie’s father!!Callie’s mother must have given Amanda the money but told her to keep it a secret??If you think about it…That could happen!And yes Amanda deffinatly knew Callie’s mother before the dissapearance!Wow this is sooo Exiting!

24. mandaxoxolove 01.11.2010

    None, not one of us, know who or what for that matter, Amanda is. All I do know is;
    *she brought Callie, Hal, and Nia together in search of her for a reason
    *at least a fraction of her mission is to help Callie, this may because she is in relation with her mother’s sudden leaving or not
    *she WANTS us to find her
    my biggest question is what happend to Callie’s mother. I am just as curious as Callie at this point. I believe that if I could find out what her mother was running from, or why she had to leave, or why she had to leave UNANNOUNCED, or if she is in some sort of protection society we would most definitley be able to find out the unresolved, most mysterious case of Amanda Valentino. Too bad no one knows yet. I will be gathering more information about Callie’s mother, so please notify me if you discovered anything of that case.
                                          Yours truly,
                                                Amanda

25. anailovesyouu 01.11.2010

    Amanda is running from something, and who knows what?
    & Who says amanda could just be trying to help people, or
    she is a compulsive liar.  But for what reasons?  Why is amanda missing,
    why do we need to find her?  Where are her parents.  Who is amanda valentino, more like WHAT is amanda valentino? How can they try to find her if she is planting notes, if she knows where the are?  Unless she is luring (spelling) them to something sinister, and dangerous?  Amanda Valentino is a big question mark, for all we know, she could be a master of disguise and be RIGHT THERE, even that weird girl at school, just trying to tell you all the answers…..
    -Anai♥

26. AniStory 01.11.2010

    Amanda could have gotten the money from someone (who is rich) or she herself could be “loaded”?

    The money could have been for the mortgage money (to help you, Callie Leary) or to help find her (to help Amanda)?

    Either way I believe the money’s purpose is to help?

27. Skinnyhippo 01.12.2010

    im not sure how she got the money but i am sure it was for the morgage. i think she wants you to stay at that house becasue it has something to do with finding her. it might be that your house is a clue its self.

28. JustaGirl 01.12.2010

    i think it appears that the money is for the mortgage because it’s the exact amount you needed but knowing amanda there is something else there. Callie’s mom and amanda are definitely connected. Both very mysterious. Can’t wait for the next book. This series is positively addictive!

29. pugcrazy 01.12.2010

    Hey , maybe Amanda got the money from her hooded friend who Callie,Nia and Hal saw on the surveillance video tape that showed them decorating the car . But the question is where did she or he get it?

30. Pipper 01.14.2010

    I agree that I’m really curius on who the hooded person is, but i got to admit, I’m as much help as a piece of ribbon is.  Maybe she’s a missing heiress who has a couple of million dollars, is running away from her cruel stepfather/mother, and, since having heaps of money, decided to give a small amount to her friend. This would explain how she has so many outfits, and why she never stays in one place for such a long time, because if she stayed in one place, her guardian will find her. and why she changed her name every place she went.

31. emily_n_123 01.14.2010

    i reallly dont think she stole the money. i think it was intended as mortgage money coz it was the right amount. i met someone like her once called Ruby but she left really suddenly without telling me where she went she never left any clues though.

32. SarahB 01.14.2010

    I think there’s definitely a connection here between Amanda, the money and Callie’s mom. We know that Callie’s mom didn’t want to leave Callie and her Dad. She loved the house too… if she could do anything to help them stay in the house then she would, I’m sure.

    Amanda’s influences don’t stop at her friends though, do they? I think the money was as much for Callie’s Dad, to push him out of his depressive cycle, as it was for Callie.

33. MGrice 01.14.2010

    I agree SarahB—Do you think Callie’s mom somehow got the money to Amanda? Maybe Thornhill’s involved in there somehow? I mean, that note he had in his car - maybe Callie’s mom reached out to Amanda and Thornhill somehow… ooohhhh, such intrigue!

34. Squiggles 01.15.2010

    A totally random thing I noticed… invisible i is invisible ink with two invisible letters. Maybe there was something on the car or somewhere written in invisible ink.

    Also she could have got the money through fame and that is why she is always changing her hair with wigs. Maybe not majorly famous maybe she just rescued someone or something.

35. MandysBoy 01.15.2010

    I think the money was stolen. I love her, but it’s not like she wouldn’t steal if she thought it was nesessary. Sort of like Robin Hood, you know?

36. MGrice 01.15.2010

    Haha, really, stolen? Who’d she have stolen it from? I mean, who has 2500 in cash just lying around? I mean, I guess she _does_ have her mysterious ways. Hmm. I don’t know - she doesn’t seem that devious to me.

37. bookworm 01.16.2010

    I think it was morgage money, I mean, it was exactly 2500 dollars and she had over heard Calie’s dad on the phone to George.
    I’m not 100 percent if she stole it or not. On one hand, she is Wealthy ( Well supposedly.)
    But on the other hand how on earth could she have 2500 dollars?!
    Wait, maybe it was half of her money, half of some one else’s money, like, her parents money.
    It’s just a thought!

38. audrey_horne 01.16.2010

    bookworm—I like your thinking! Maybe she cobbled up some dollars from wherever she could find them around her—theeennn her mom (or SOME weird, mysterious figure) helped her out for the rest of it. No 14 year old has 2500 bucks laying around. I like your thinking.

39. Loujaine13483 01.17.2010

    Callie
    I honestly think that Amanda gave you the money to not only save your famliy, but to unite you and your father on some terms. Knowing how Amanda likes peace, then she probably did it to give you some peace of thought.
    LuLu

40. bitneebb 01.19.2010

    I think the money came from callie’s mom. I think Amanda and her mother are connected. It is not clear to be yet but something is going on. I don’t think Amanda would steal the money it would not be like her. If she was a thief she would have showed some kind of that character with Hal, Callie or Nia.

41. missmelaysia 01.25.2010

    Of course its mortgage money that’s something she would! OMG i have a crazy idea that it just might work! What if Amanda was sent to Callie n her Dad to help them move on. Or she could have been sent by Callie’s mom herself! Dunno but it could be a possibility!

42. FashionAddict 01.30.2010

    look at all this in perspective.
    she gave callie the EXACT amount she was missing for the mortgage,
    she is definitely not the type to steal, we all agree on that,
    she could have been given it, and possibly from callies mum
    BUT if amanda really wanted to help callie, she would have just told her! she was that kind of person, and she certainly had a very special relationship with callie,
    maybe she inherited the money (look at my comment on closing in on the cash)

43. _Sakura_ 03.08.2010

    Well, Amanda certainly is smart, and like fizzy79 said, she must have found some way to bring you, Hal, and Nia together. I also agree with some people that Amanda must have earned the money in some creative way to pay the mortgage. FashionAddict also makes a fair point- she gave Callie the EXACT amount of money, and must have been in cahoots with Callie’s mum- maybe contact? I have a feeling that Amanda knows where Callie’s mum is…..

44. dipsy13 03.17.2010

    I think it’s money intended to send a message. Maybe with lemon juice ink or maybe stamps on it.  Although it’s the right amount of money to pay the mortgage, and Amanda is certaintly one to hit two birds with one stone, dontcha think? Read the message on the money, use it to pay the mortgage. Come to think of it, if Callie could pay the mortgage, that would bring her and her father closer together. Another point is that the money kind of helped Callie’s father. Once he realized a child had been giving him money, he realized he needed to stop drinking so much, get his act together, and care for Callie.

45. EnglishGeek 04.30.2010

    Strawbezz, I think you might be onto something. I was in Paris two months ago and I saw Amanda twice, once with blond hair, and once with blue. She was with a 30-40 year old both times, and they were hanging out near the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

46. izzap2 04.30.2010

    I think maybe Amanda needed you, Hal and Nia to be together for some reason (dunno what), and she gave you the money so you didn’t have to move?

    Just a theory.

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