Character Profile and Interview: Camille

***Spoiler Alert***

 If you have not read the novel yet, reading the character interview questions and answers below will spoil it for you. This is meant to be read after you’ve finished reading the book.

Character Profile

Name: Camille

Age: 7

Hair Color: Strawberry Blonde

Eye Color: Blue

Favorite Color: Blue

Personality Description:

Camille is a young French girl who loves adventures and the outdoors. Delightful, she loves to play games and have fun like any other child. Having a curious nature, she likes to see how things work and easily picks up on new technology. Generally calm, it takes a lot to make her cry for her age. Although she’s young, she’s resourceful and brave enough to survive on her own for months without speaking to anyone. She misses her parents but is excited to meet Allie and Samantha and thinks of them as her big sisters.

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Character Interviews

Question 1: How did you get separated from your parents?

Answer: My maman and papa and my brothers were walking ahead of me towards a big building and listening to the tour guide. I got bored and saw a pretty picture and stopped to look at it. When I turned around, I didn’t see them anymore. Then a bunch of people pushed by me and I kept calling for them, but they did not hear me. I started walking around shouting their name, but they did not find me. I kept walking and walking until I got so lost I could not find them. I…[Camille starts to cry]…I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

Question 2: Why did you decide to live in the school?

Answer: After I ran away and got lost, I saw this building with lots of cool pictures of animals. The pictures were all over the building. It looked so pretty that I wanted to see more of it. But when I got close, I saw big kids walking in and out of the building. After they stopped, I walked inside and looked around. I saw more and more of the pictures like outside, but these were in color. I liked the way it looked, and I found out that I could take food from the big kids when they weren’t looking. [Camille giggles] They were so easy to trick. It was fun. I found a place where there were not many people and I snuck around when no one was there. At night, it was all my own place and I could run around all I wanted there. I liked it, so I stayed.

Question 3: What is the first thing you want to do when you get back home?

Answer: I want to hug my maman and papa and my brothers. Then I want to go play outside with them. I want to run around and around in the meadow by my house and then I want to go inside and eat my favorite food for dinner. I want to stay up all night and tell my family everything I did in the underwater city. I want them to know that I was a big girl and took care of myself for a long time without any help from a grown-up!

Random Question: What is your favorite dessert?

Answer: Strawberry ice cream topped with strawberries and sprinkles and lots and lots of candy!

Character Profile and Interview: Katrina

***Spoiler Alert***

 If you have not read the novel yet, reading the character interview questions and answers below will spoil it for you. This is meant to be read after you’ve finished reading the book.

Character Profile

Name: Katrina McDonnell

Age: 16

Hair Color: Red

Eye Color: Light Brown

Favorite Color: Green

Academic Focus: Gastroenterological Adaptations of Abyssal Fishes

Biggest Fear: Nothing

Personality Description:

Katrina McDonnell is a no non-sense intellectual type who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks or says about her. Often misjudged, she usually keeps to herself until someone else shows an interest in her. A fierce friend, she’ll stand up against anyone who tries to harm or threaten those she loves and cares about. Her curiosity for the deep sea causes her to daydream about it on a consistent basis, which often keeps her from interacting with the outside world. Not one to be punctual, she’d rather spend every second contemplating the mysteries of the deep or researching them in the laboratory.

Katrina has the ENTP-A or Debater personality type. If you want to read more about this personality type, you can visit https://www.16personalities.com/entp-personality.

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Character Interviews

Question 1: What made you want to study the gastroenterological adaptations of abyssal fishes?

Answer: Well, for your focus, you have to choose something unique with little-established research already conducted on the topic. I’ve always been curious about how fish in the deep are able to digest almost anything they can get their jaws on. As long as they are able to swallow it, they can gain their nutrients from it. I knew some fishes didn’t have fully formed digestive systems compared to photic zone fishes, but I knew there had to be some sort of research I could do. Also, it’s challenging, and I enjoy a challenge.

Question 2: What was your first thought when you discovered Allie was a Land Dweller?

Answer: About time! That was the first thought I had. We needed someone to mix up things in Oceania. I was tired of hearing everyone complain about the Land Dweller visitors to our city the past eighteen months or so. They were coming to see what advancements our city had made and just observe what life was like down here. I can’t blame them for that. Discovering that Allie was a Land Dweller was a good thing to me because I thought people would realize they could mingle with us without causing a catastrophe. Of course, Allie’s presence did almost cause a catastrophe, but you know what I mean.

Question 3: Why did you help Allie with the UPC room access? Did you ever wonder why she didn’t have access?

Answer: No, I didn’t consider why she didn’t have access. I figured that she hadn’t yet been approved for Echo level clearance yet. Sometimes applying for higher clearance levels can take weeks and if you aren’t ready beforehand, it can really throw a sea urchin into your plans. I didn’t want Allie to have to deal with that, so I offered to allow her inside whenever I was there.

Question 4: Were you surprised to discover Camille had been the one stealing the food in the cafeteria?

Answer: Yes! I do have to admit to being surprised by that. Even with my knowledge of Allie being a Land Dweller, I didn’t expect there to be a Land Dweller kid in Oceania. I knew Rosa’s guess of it being a ghost was ridiculous, but Allie and my guess of a malfunction in the food delivery system made more sense. Still, I’m impressed by Camille. She’s a brave, smart, little girl. I didn’t know anything about her until I found out about a Land Dweller child in the city, but when Allie admitted to me that she had been the food stealing culprit, I was shocked.

Random Question: Why don’t you care about what others think?

Answer: What does it really matter? Whether someone thinks something about you doesn’t make it true. My mother always told me when I was little: Katrina, be yourself not what everyone else wants you to be. I actually listened to her advice and I’m glad I did. Who wants to be defined by what others think of them?

Character Profile and Interview: Rosa

***Spoiler Alert***

 If you have not read the novel yet, reading the character interview questions and answers below will spoil it for you. This is meant to be read after you’ve finished reading the book.

Character Profile

Name: Rosa Kalani

Age: 16

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Favorite Color: Maroon

Academic Focus: Larval Behavioral Ecology of the Deep Scattering Layer

Biggest Fear: Ghosts

Personality Description:

Rosa Kalani is a friendly, intellectual girl. Although she’s very smart, she lets her insecurities get the better of her from time to time. Kindness and compassion fills her heart, making it easy for her to pick up on the emotions of others. Whenever possible, she’s the first person to help someone in need. She’s interested in a variety of subjects besides science, but science has captivated her heart since she was a small child. Even though she enjoys the logical pursuit of sciences, she believes in (and fears) the paranormal. Befriending Allie was only natural for Rosa because she saw someone in need. Shocked, but excited about discovering that Allie is a Land Dweller, Rosa can’t wait to discover more about the Above World.

Rosa has the INFJ-T or Advocate personality type. If you want to read more about this personality type, you can visit https://www.16personalities.com/infj-personality.

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Character Interviews

Question 1: What made you befriend Allie?

Answer: When I first arrived at school and saw a girl standing alone looking at the murals on the walls, I thought maybe she could use a friend. When we started talking and I realized we had the same class, I thought that was cool. The more I got to know Allie, the cooler she seemed to be. I love making new friends and reaching out to people, so it was easy for me to befriend Allie. Since she was new to the school, I knew she could use a friend.

Question 2: What was your first thought when you discovered Allie was a Land Dweller?

Answer: My first thought was wow! Even though she said and did some things that seemed odd to me, I would have never thought she was a Land Dweller. But, when I thought about it some more, it made sense. I wasn’t disgusted with her like some of our classmates were. I wasn’t mad at her for not telling me either. I completely understand why she would have been scared to say anything to anyone. There’s so much hostility toward Land Dwellers, especially when the submarines arrived. I just feel lucky to be her friend.

Question 3: Were you scared to use the SCUBAPS for the first time?

Answer: Not really. If anything, I guess I could say I was more nervous than scared. I’d never been in the ocean before and I didn’t know what to expect. I’d swum in pools in Oceania a lot, so I assumed it would be similar. I’d read a lot about the immense pressure outside the city, but I knew the SCUBAPS was supposed to protect us from the pressure. The explanation Allie gave us before we left for the docking bay helped a lot. The way she stays cool under pressure is amazing. It definitely helped me not be scared outside in the water. Having her around made me feel more at ease.

Question 4: When you saw the submarines arrive, did you think you were going to die? What about after they left?

Answer: I was terrified when they arrived. I’d never heard alarms going off and telling us to return to our homes like that. When the mayor came onto the announcement screens to tell us what was happening, I was terrified that we’d be attacked, especially after the mayor stated that we had no way of defending ourselves. Even after the subs left, I couldn’t help wondering if they’d return and kill us all.

Random Question: Have you ever seen a ghost?

Answer: Yes! Once when I was little, I saw something floating down the hallway in our apartment. I told my parents about it and they said I was probably seeing things. I do not like ghosts! They’re scary and they do crazy things. The one I saw was floating and eating seaweed pie!

Character Profile and Interview: Samantha

***Spoiler Alert***

 If you have not read the novel yet, reading the character interview questions and answers below will spoil it for you. This is meant to be read after you’ve finished reading the book.

Character Profile

Name: Samantha Lee

Age: 15

Hair Color: Golden-blonde

Eye Color: Gray

Favorite Color: Turquoise

Academic Focus: Mammal Audiology

Biggest Fear: Sharks

Personality Description:

Samantha Lee is a dedicated, loyal friend who will do anything to help her friends. A bit of a romantic and a dreamer, she’s less logical than the majority of her friends. Still, she knows how to reason when it comes to science and is knowledgeable about the biology of the undersea world. She’s smart but humble about it and unless you engage her in a discussion about marine biology or mammal audiology with entirely incorrect facts. Outgoing, she loves to make friends and spend time with other people. Part of her desire to be around others stems from being left alone so much as a child due to her workaholic parents. As a toddler, Dylan became her first friend and she’s been part of his group of friends ever since. After meeting Allie and discovering that she was a Land Dweller, it became her dream to visit land one day.

Samantha has the ENFP-T or Campaigner personality type. If you want to read more about this personality type, you can visit https://www.16personalities.com/entj-personality.

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Character Interviews

Question 1: When Dylan told you Allie would be living in Oceania for a while, what was your first thought?

Answer: I was excited! Allie’s a cool person and I don’t have many girl friends like her. I knew she’d need my help acclimating to life in Oceania. I mean, I couldn’t leave Dylan, Devon, and Max to be the only ones to give her advice on living in Oceania. I cringe to think what she would have been wearing. [Samantha laughs] I thought we’d have a great time together. Maybe have an adventure like two years ago when I helped her and Dylan escape Mayor Aldridge.

Question 2: You and Dylan have been like siblings since you were little. What was it like having Allie be considered his “real” sister?

Answer: It didn’t bother me. Dylan never treated either me or Allie any differently, so it didn’t matter. I think it was good for Dylan to have someone else at home since his parents are never there. Of course, he wasn’t there himself too much after going to Oceania University, but still. I think it was good for him.

Question 3: How did you feel about everyone’s actions while you were in a coma? Do you regret going out in the seamobile?

Answer: I was extremely touched! I can’t believe Allie called my mother and convinced her to come to the hospital. That was so selfless of her. She was recovering too and for her to call all the Dr. Lee’s in the database until she found my mom was amazing. She’ll always be my best friend for that. And Max and Pedro’s actions…I have to admit that I am flattered that they acted that way. Also, a little disappointed I wasn’t able to see it all happen! Dylan I wasn’t surprised about. He’s always been there for me no matter what happens. That’s why he’s my big brother.

As for going out in the seamobile, I don’t regret it. Living under the water has its dangers. Going out into the open ocean is a risk every time you do it. The accident could have happened at any time. The only thing I regret is that Allie’s life was risked too because I wanted to go out there. Next time, I’ll wait until my mentor can take me until I feel comfortable enough with a seamobile to use it on my own.

Question 4: Why did you help Allie hide Camille?

Answer: When I met Camille, she was a terrified little girl. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for her to be so far away from home and not able to speak the language. I mean, we’re talking about a seven-year-old girl here. Her frightened little blue eyes melted my heart and I knew I couldn’t let her be discovered by Oceania Security. Unlike Allie, who would have people coming to her home every now and then, my parents hardly ever left the lab. I knew I could easily hide her in my home without anyone noticing. Also, I thought she’d be more comfortable at my house. Hiding her with me was also less suspicious because I wasn’t a Land Dweller like Allie. I also helped because Allie’s my friend and friends help each other.

Random Question: Why are you afraid of sharks?

Answer: [Samantha flinches and cringes] Is this a real question? I mean, seriously? Why wouldn’t I be afraid of sharks? They have hundreds of sharp teeth, scary faces, and bad attitudes. Both Allie and Dylan have tried to show me how graceful they can be, but I don’t care! They’re terrifying and I don’t want to ever see one in person again!

*Note: Samantha's age is based on her age in Allie's Return, not Oceania: The Underwater City.