Tackle the Text: To Catch a Theme

Is there a theme to Amanda’s stories about her parents? What did she tell you?

52 responses

1. trumpetgirl 04.02.2010

   I don’t see a common theme, but here’s a possible story:

   Amanda’s mother did work (or does) in Uganda, and her father [at one time] worked for the United Nations in Latin America. Then her parents could have gotton in a divorce, or were in one, when her father died. All while she was little. Her grandparents might have lived in Orion, even if not in the house she told Callie. Maybe she admired the house, or it reminded her of something.

   Amanda never told me anything about her past, or her relatives. So other than putting the clues she gave Hal, Callie and Nia together, I have nothing else (yet).

2. ♥MLE♥ 04.02.2010

   I think I may see a pattern. Well we all know at least one person who elaborate on thier lives to make themselves seem better. Well maybe.. not for reasons of self worth, but resons of secrecy that Amanda told us all stories because she had to protect her parents identity. I mean maybe they are missing like Callie’s mom. We have been saying there are connections beween Amanda and Callie’s mom anyway. Why not her parents too?
   Amanda told me that her parents had died in a car accident when she was little and that she was adopted. I was pretty shocked that she addmited it. I think that maybe she is trying to hide or cover up her parents by telling us these stories. Don’t you think?

3. dem_94 04.03.2010

   You might be on to something MLE. I know we’ve considered that Amanda’s parents were extrmeley (and possibly famous) because of the money she gave Callie, but maybe her parents were famous for the wrong reason. Her parents may have done something (intentional or not) that destroyed someone’s life and Amanda witnessed it. I’m not saying her parents are bad it could have been a total accident, but maybe Amanda selflessness and charity comes from trying to undo or compensate for something in the past. If that’s true, Amanda wouldn’t want us to know about her dark past. No one wants to be ashamed of their parents.

   As for a pattern, I see several things that could be very tramatic to a young child. Traveling a lot and not having a true place to call home, losing a parent to death, having your parents get divorced, having grandparents that lived far away.

4. RRRules 04.03.2010

   so dem, you’re saying her parents may be notorious, and she’s ashamed of them?
   I don’t think that AV’s parent’s are famous. If they were, the press would know they have a fifteen year old daughter who’s is….wherever she is right now.

   I think the only pattern is that the stories are all interesting. AV is exotic. Not the I-come-from-the-middle-of-nowhere exotic, but the strange and unique kind. AV didn’t want any part of her to be simple, so maybe she made up these stories. Or it could all be true….
   AV’s parents were divorced, her mom was in Uganda and her dad with the UN. He died. Maybe her grandparents did live in Orion.

   AV never told me much herself. Most everything I know is from watching her.

   Plan of Action:
   Orion is a small town. I think we should try to find records of who lived here and married their daughter off to a Valentino. Or, if AV took her mom’s name, find a Valentino. (Period.)

   One problem: AV might have lied about her name. Even if her mom’s parents are in Orion, we’d have to find every old person in town. Unless they moved. Or died.

5. GirlinBlack13 04.03.2010

   Amanda told ME, that she lives in a “hidden house” which is a house that can’t be seen through the normal eye. They were used in the 1800’s for servant quarters, or stables.

   She also told me her mom died by a plane accident when she was like 2, and her dad worked for airplanes, traveling around the world, barely stopping home. Every month he would send her a post card, and a check to pay for clothing, rent, and food, which was like $500 bucks per month. She gave me a postcard with a picture of the Ruins of Pompeii, which is my dream vacation. I thought it was weird that she would have, almost the same past as me, except my dad doesn’t send me cash or postcards. He pays the rent when he stops off once a month.

   Recently after she disappeared, I got an envelope in the mail with $500, a plane ticket to Pompeii, and back to Orion, and a card that you use in hotels. I haven’t used them yet though, because the date for the plane tickets aren’t there yet. I’m hoping to see her there. If not, I’ll stock up on lots of postcards for you guys!

6. AllieK 04.03.2010

   I agree that maybe all the stories are true; Amanda’s Parents are divorced, her mom worked in Uganda and her dad with the UN, they got divorced and her dad later died.  I agree that maybe she’s trying to protect their parents for some reason.  I don’t think that her parents necessarily did something bad but they’re involved in something that requires them to hid their identity.  Like they’re in witness protection program or-this seems less likely-but they’re spies.

7. AllieK 04.03.2010

   And Amanda never told me much about herself, just that her mom died when she was little and since then she had been living with her dad and grandma.

8. LINDARTIST 04.03.2010

   Usually when people tell lies like that, they’re really trying to cover up something they’re ashamed of by making up their ideal life, kind of like Susanna. Her stories are extremes. And she always tried to really stand out from the crowd, so maybe, she just has normal parents who are married, lives in an average home, and wishes her life was more interesting, so she’s trying to add some excitement to it.

9. marycaulf 04.03.2010

   Yes!!!  Her parents are not together, plus her father died, Her grandparents live in Orion.

10. Bellamariette 04.03.2010

    Everything Amanda told us about herself was fake, and so are these theories about her family. I have to agree with Callie that Amanda doesn’t seem like the type to have parents. More likely than not, she’s found a way to be on her own. I can’t imagine her being in a normal Mom, Dad, and child situation. I definitely think she’s got too much freedom for that. She’s probably in a foster care home or something like that, where there’s not much supervision. Does anyone know of any places like that in Orion?

11. soccachik666 04.03.2010

    actually it seems like there might be something up with amanda and her parents. Like maybe they are divorced or dead since it seems like she doesn’t that much parental supervision. One thing she doesnt chaNGE though is that her grandparents live in orion. Maybe we should check out her grandparents first… they might know more.

12. FarmGirl101 04.03.2010

    I wonder if maybe she is somewhere with callies mom,, I mean they are both gone and both seem to be in danger. Plus both their disappearances were very subtle.. I hear her dad has become sober.. That should help out her life in many ways. I hope things continue to look up for her and I still think the other person with her vandalizing the car was Callie’s mom… Possible right?

13. _Sakura_ 04.03.2010

    Well, the only thing in common that I see is the fact that her grandparents lived in Orion, or are STILL living there. But what if maybe the locations that Amanda told Callie, Hal, and Nia about (her house) have a meaning to them? I think we should find out more about the locations that she told them about.

    She told me that her mum and dad died in a plane crash, when she was 5. She told me later that her grandparents took her in and moved to Orion.

14. SerenaRules 04.03.2010

    These may be clues to finding Amanda. Maybe she has ties to people who lived like this maybe…just maybe they can supply clues to reveal her location. It seems amanda had this very well planned out and all this is tieing in with callie and her mom and whatever her mother ran away from

15. PoshKat 04.03.2010

    Well, we all know she took Callie’s name when she was helping the old people, so what if the other stories she told were the stories of other friends she had? Like, maybe she had a friend somewhere who’s mum worked with gorillas in Uganda. Or maybe, her grandparents are in Orion, her mum does work with gorillas, her REAL dad worked in Latin America but died when she was little, and now her STEP-dad and REAL mum are going through an ugly divorce. Although that seems a little far-fetched if you ask me.

16. JinxTheRipper 04.03.2010

    It’s possible that one of the stories is true, or maybe there’s a connection with those stories.

17. amanda971 04.03.2010

    i love the book and love that everyone is trying to figure out what happened i think she is still Orion and maybe her dad is in hiding. can’t wait for the next book

18. LINDARTIST 04.03.2010

    Well, I think that maybe she IS just ordinary, so she’s bored of that and wants excitement. Maybe this is like a big, adventurous game to her. It makes sense psychologically.

19. LINDARTIST 04.03.2010

    I don’t think she’s in an orphanage. If we want to go that route, maybe she’s in a foster home.

20. trumpetgirl 04.03.2010

    That is a possibility. Maybe she was in an orphanage, and [yes] thought it boring. Maybe her parents died, but when she was put into the orphanage, she ran away. We should see if there are any orphanages around Orion.

21. RRRules 04.04.2010

    Bellamariette gave me an idea, and then Linda and trumpet back it up. Look for an orphanage, see if she was with any foster home.

    The nearest orphanage is about forty miles from here, so I went bus-hopping to get there (and let me tell ya, it’s not cheap).
    I found the place and described AV to the secretary. She looked surprised and I saw a flicker of recognition cross her face.
    But, like all irritating secretaries, she droned on and on about privacy and anonymity and…well, I zoned out a bit. Okay, more than a bit.

    Overall result:
    I’m fifteen bucks short, a certain orphanage secretary possible [probably] hates me, and aforementioned secretary kinda-sorta-maybe knows our Amanda Valentino.

    Effect: I’m broke. /$/ :(

22. Coupe 04.04.2010

    Remember how AV told those random old people she was Callie? She used a situation that already existed. Well mabey thats what she did to Nia, Callie, and Hal. Ther could be kids out there with a mother in uganda and a dad working for the UN. Theres a probably a ton of kids with Gparents in Orion and parents going through a bad divorce. Finding out if (and which) kids in Orion are in these situations might give us a theme. Do any of my fellow posters live in Orion?

23. _Sakura_ 04.04.2010

    I agree with JinxTheRipper, and maybe one of the many stories she told Hal, Nia and Callie is true. I also agree with people about trying to find any orphanages in or around Orion to see if Amanda had any history there. We should try to find orphanages outside Orion because we know AV, and she probably wouldn’t make the location easy to find.

24. BlueRoseGrey 04.04.2010

    OOH! AND she’s always been a single child—no siblings!

25. Squiggles 04.04.2010

    There are lots of themes, admittedly none of them exactly common. :-)

    Here are a couple of themes and theories:
    None of the stories can be PROVED true without actually meeting the people and well, there’s not a lot of chance of that is there?

    Amanda might not know. That could be why she’s constantly reinventing herself, and she could be trying to figure out her past. Nothing about her matches up because she doesn’t know much about herself.

    If Amanda Valentino isn’t her real name, it could be a clue. Maybe there’s an anagram in it, or maybe it’s to do with st valentines day or something. It could be her birthday…

    Another theme: In none of them does she mention any siblings. Does anyone think she had any?

    If her parents were going through an ugly divorce maybe they were in court figuring it out, who gets Amanda?

    None of the stories are happy. They’re either neutral or sad. Yet Amanda was one the happiest self-confident people I knew! She’s not the type to make up purposefully depressing lies. However, when people say sad things the person who they are telling rarely questions further. Maybe these statements ground a halt to the questioning.

    Well, tell me what you think!

26. BlueRoseGrey 04.04.2010

    There’s definately one common theme here that totally stands out to me: her parents are NEVER THERE. never. gone off to some trip, research, dead, whatever—just NOT. THERE.

    As for the other question?

    Amanda told me very little about her life—parents included—but she did tell me some. Her parents were these amazing zoologists—they studied mostly wild dogs i.e. wolves, african wild dogs, COYOTES etc.

27. JinxTheRipper 04.04.2010

    I think Amanda invents her personality for each person, to string them along and turn it into an adventure. She mentioned that her animal Totem is Coyote, The trickster. It’s a possiblity that she left a hint of truth to each of her friends?

28. NoVoMavis 04.05.2010

    Here is the major problem…. Amanda’s Mother if your talking Biological has been dead since Amanda’s Birth Like wise mine. Her dad was at work over in a third world country im not sure why or when he was expected home we never saw him. He never came to get her. My sister would be the closet thing Amanda has to a mother. She is 32 now and named Camilla And she works for the Police department in Cleveland. Now i know everything about Amanda from the time she was born up to her 11th birthday. She sent me a ext about three months ago of a statue i researched and found it was in Orion and that’s how i came upon this site. However your now telling em Amanda is gone again. I have been so close. So MAny times

29. trumpetgirl 04.05.2010

    I agree with JinxTheRipper. Because in the book remember when Callie and her Dad went to return the money, and Amanda’s “grandparents” thought Amanda was Callie. Amanda baiscially told the people she was Callie. Here’s the part:

    “She’s a teenager, about my height. Beautiful. Changes her appearance a lot. She told me she lives here.”
    “The man didn’t seem to have heard the last sentence because he was distracted by an idea. “Are you by any chance looking for Callista? Callie?”
    “What?” My dad’s voice was a near shriek.
    Again, the man didn’t seem to notice. “Oh that must be who you’re talking about. A lovely girl. She helped my wife and me with some errands this winter, back when it was so icy in January.”——-  “Smart as a whip, too,” continued the man. “Going to be an astrologer.”
    “Now Harold.” The woman gave him an affectionate look. “An astronomer.” She turned back to us. “Her mother was an astronomer, you see. So that’s why she was interested.”

    So maybe she told other people who new her she was Nia? (probably not Hal, but still).

30. Pipper 04.05.2010

    heres what she told me:
    *Her Mum had died when she was three of a car crash
    *Her Dad was in rehab of depressmant
    *So she lived with her grandma at her farm

    common theme?NO

31. Pipper 04.05.2010

    JINXTHERIPPER you.are.a.genius. The trixter. of course!

32. jessicahuey 04.06.2010

    it was nice of you to mention some of my good friends on her. I go on this website eveyday! thre is no common hteme to the information she shared with us. I really really Hope that Hal will give a description of Amanda this time to the guy at the Comfort Inn!! God Bless! pce out!

33. RRRules 04.07.2010

    JINX. Duh! You’re brilliant! The coyote is the trickster. The trickster has a name…anyone remember his name?
    Ah! Loki! That’s it!
    Now we need a connection….

    Side point: I don’t see why people are making such a big deal about there being a hidden meaning to the whole AV-calling-herself-Callie-and-helping-out-some-old-people. As I see it, AV told Callie that she lives somewhere and knew that Callie would come looking for her there. Knowing this, she called herself Callie for a little bit of ironic humor. That’s all I see it as.

34. AllieK 04.08.2010

    I’m confused how do we know the trickster’s name was Loki?

35. _Sakura_ 04.08.2010

    Look what I found online about LOKI:

    “The trickster deity breaks the rules of the gods or nature, sometimes maliciously (for example, Loki) but usually, albeit unintentionally, with ultimately positive effects.”

    And more here about the coyote:

    “The Coyote mythos is one of the most popular among Native American cultures. Coyote is a ubiquitous being and can be categorized in many types. In creation myths, Coyote appears as the Creator himself; but he may at the same time be the messenger, the culture hero, the trickster, the fool, the clown. He has also the ability of the transformer: in some stories he is a handsome young man; in others he is an animal; yet others present him as just a power, a sacred one.”

36. JinxTheRipper 04.08.2010

    Piper. There’s no need to call me Trixter but thanks for the trying ;D
    Now you mentioned it RRRules, i once considered that and now it seems more likely, I can’t believe i overlooked it. Thanks for the information, Sakura. Now how can we tie it to Amanda? She’s a transformer, remember Nia, Hal and Callie said different things about her, her likes and dislikes, sense of fashion and her personality. Hal mentioned she love Coffee, couldn’t live without it but Callie says she hates Coffee. I don’t think Amanda’s a fool, but she is a trickster and transform herself into another person.

    She tricks people, and have told different stories of her life to others. She seem to have a lot of talents; Math, good at art but why? Is she lying to others?

    I think we’re closer to her theme.

37. JinxTheRipper 04.08.2010

    Amanda may use Nia’s idenity as she used Callie’s but Like Trumpetgirl says it. It’s unlikely that she actually uses the name “Hal” but i can see Amanda trying to change herself into a guy, she’s always transforming herself. Almost as if she have many different personalities, all with each own backgrounds, history.

    “Loki is a shapeshifter and gender shifter, a helper, but also the consummate trouble maker.” - I found this when i searched for information about Loki, and they seem to fit, in an very odd way. Amanda Valentine could turn herself into anybody, maybe EVEN HAL?

38. JinxTheRipper 04.08.2010

    I have found some information about “Coyote” -

    “The Coyote tells us to be mindful of our actions - be wary of playing tricks on ourselves or others. Coyote also reminds us that the consequences of our actions effect more than just ourselves.

    The Coyote comes to us with a message that only by learning from our mistakes will we ever be free from shackles/restriction.

    This wonderful creature also reminds us that no matter what form we take (as we “shape-shift” our personality) or how many difficult situations we may find ourselves in - we must always take time to laugh. “

    ...
    Hmm, strange.
    Did you notice in the last paragraph, it says “Shape-shift our personality”

39. RRRules 04.09.2010

    Jinx:
    Interesting stuff. You also said:
    “Almost as if she have many different personalities, all with each own backgrounds, history.”
    Maybe all three AVs that we know (or more, even) are solid. I think they are. She has a perfect alibi for each character that she pulls off.

    Another thing:
    As for becoming a guy, I don’t think she could do that, but she could always twist the name Hal into a girl’s name, like Haley. But I still stand by what I said previously:
    “As I see it, AV told Callie that she lives somewhere and knew that Callie would come looking for her there. Knowing this, she called herself Callie for a little bit of ironic humor. “

    A third thing:
    Loki is originally Norse. Do what you want with that tidbit.

    Humor time (since this is so serious):
    Lo-ki. Low key. Everything AV is not. She is definitely not low-key.
    Yes, I know, I’m a horrible comedian who shouldn’t quit their day job.
    (Except if comedy is my day job, in which case my audience is probably deaf.)

40. RRRules 04.09.2010

    Oh! Woopsie!
    Loki is Norse or Scandanavian.

41. queenie 04.09.2010

    Amanda told me that her parents had gone through an ugly divorce and her step dad was evil so she’d ran away to her grandparents cause mum was working in Uganda!

42. _Sakura_ 04.09.2010

    Jinx and RRRules:
    I like the information and connections about AV you managed to put together. =)
    More info on Loki here. (if we need to more about him) Sorry for all the info-

        “Loki is one of the major gods of Norse mythology, he was known as The Trickster, The Sly One, The Shape Changer and The Sky Traveler.”
        “Loki is a shape shifter and can take many forms such as a horse, a falcon or even a fly. He is associated with the element of fire and he is regarded as being crafty and malicious but also heroic.”

    Just like Jinx said, AV could turn into anyone she wanted.

43. _Sakura_ 04.09.2010

    And one last part here, that explains a connection between the COYOTE and LOKI:
        “Coyote is the trickster, the clever spirit god. He generally is the source of troubles and conflict, though tales involving him have, as most god stories do some sort of moral explanation as to how and why things are the way they are. His closest counterpart would be Loki from Norse mythology. Seeing a connection here yet? Coyote is said to be able to take many forms, the most common besides human or coyote is crow. He loves to deceive, and hates to leave.”

    Hopefully this helps!

44. EllyGreenie 04.09.2010

    Ok,i’ve just finished reading what all of you guys said. I’ve finished the book today too.
    I think we can all agree that there is a connection with Callie’s Mum and Amanda. She was always telling callie that her mum would come back ect…
    But first of all Im still a little confused with the whole thing about the head master in a coma, and the note which said “please help us”. Who is us? and who was that other person helping amanda decorate the car?
    Also I think that the vintage shop lady does know something. and i think that amanda became friends with bea and thats how she knows about that heidi scandle.
    Who wrote that message on the toilet wall though? Maybe they could find out who writes in silver pen? LOL.
    But about this whole parent thing. I dont think she has any parents either. I mean it is possible but it makes more sense that she doesnt. Thats why she has to make up storys. But why would someone make themselves missing so that someone could find them. Why? Whats the point?
    She might be a runaway or something. Maybe shes running away from someone or something.

45. jessicahuey 04.10.2010

    witness protection program? lol what is that? :) jw

46. Ravon 04.10.2010

    hey guys if Amanda was in the witness protection program then this site would not really be aloud to be on the internet it would be putter her and everyone else in danger. but i defiantly think that Amanda is trying to protect someone or many people by telling everybody different stories and that is you try to remember everything she told you guys in her exact words, you would probably find that her stories will have something even if it is very small in common.

47. Aqualine 04.15.2010

    I beleive what MLE says is a great idea. What if Amanda is actually working for a top-secret spy unit? Or, even better, what if Amanda and Callie are SISTERS??? Perhaps Amanda doesn’t want Callie to know BECAUSE AMANDA IS EVIL?! Or not quite evil, but perhaps, as in the Chasing Yesterday series, Amanda has been involved in a top-secret hypnotising experiment and her parents are working for the acgency? (P.S. you guys just HAVE to read that series- it’s awesome!)

48. Aqualine 04.15.2010

    In regards to EllyGreenie’s post, congrats on finishing!! I haven’t yet and maybe this person’s identity is already revealed but could it be the lizard totem on the back of the car stands for another person? Someone cold-blooded and slithery, perhaps? :) Also… she comes on Halloween? Isn’t that kind-of obviously a bad thing? Doesn’t that kind of OBVIOUSLY mean she’s bad- like, demon bad? I think she’s creepy.

49. Alyxtiaz 04.16.2010

    If Amanda really is still living in Orion, maybe someone(Hal, Nia, or Callie) should               go around the neighborhood and ask about Amanda. Or describe her, at least. And then maybe, they will find her.

50. turquoisedawn 04.17.2010

    I think that Amanda is basing her ‘past’ on Hal, Callie and Nia’s past. Does anyone else see the similarities?

51. izzap2 04.29.2010

    She told me that her dad had died when she was little, and her mum was often busy with work. I never saw her mum.

52. izzap2 05.01.2010

    also, she moved near me for a bit, just across the road.