We've all been there: You run into someone who looks a little familiar and start wracking your brain to figure out who they are. Or, maybe you've been in a new place for a while and can't help thinking about life back where you're from. Throughout Stolen, both of our main characters are haunted not just by the roles they've played in each other's lives but unresolved family conflicts that still occupy their thoughts. Gemma may not remember the ways Ty was involved with her life long before her kidnapping, but her gradual recollection changes the way she sees him.
Questions About Memory and the Past
- Ty and Gemma are really the only characters we consistently get a picture of throughout the story. How does Christopher use Gemma's memories to develop the characters of her family members and friends?
- How does being in Australia change the way Gemma remembers and perceives her life back home?
- Do you think there's any association between Ty's mother bearing a resemblance to Gemma and Ty's plot to abduct her? Why or why not? Is Ty aware of this? How can you tell?
- What do Ty and Gemma have in common in terms of their pasts? How does this affect their relationship?
Chew on This
Ty kidnaps Gemma not as revenge for what happened to him as a child but because he's trying to make it right by rescuing Gemma from the life he experienced in the city.
The more Gemma remembers about Ty's role in her life back home, the more we truly get to know him and his motivations.