Looking for Alibrandi' by Melina Marchetta (novel)

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TEXT 2 - 'Looking for Alibrandi' by Melina Marchetta (novel)

Melina Marchetta's novel 'Looking for Alibrandi' is about a teenage girl Josephine's growth to freedom through interaction of the women of the three generations of Alibrandi's - Katia Alibrandi, Christina Alibrandi and herself. Further changes come about in Josephine through interaction with other characters, which include, her father, her boyfriend, her suicidal friend, her girlfriends and her school principle.

Josephine Alibrandi, a catholic girl, narrates the novel in her final year of high school. She attends St Martha's, a wealthy catholic school in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Her academic scholarship ensures her place at the school, as she isn't as well of as the others that attend the school. Her Italian origin has been the reason for torment towards her in her life. Her family is part of the Italian community in Sydney. Her grandmother settled in Australia with a man she was forced to marry.

Josie lives in the inner-city suburb of Glebe with her single mother, their small house is a source of embarrassment for her. Josie is on a journey of discovery throughout the novel, this journey reveals much about herself and her family. Her search for her own cultural identity is coupled with her struggle as a poor student.

In 'Looking for Alibrandi' the author, Melina Marchetta helps to shape our understanding of change by demonstrating how it can be gradual, how it is natural and how our perspectives can change. We see this concept of emotional change through the protagonist, Josephine.

A key event that changes Josephine's perspective is when she meets her father, Michael Andretti. Initially, before Josephine had even met her father she resented him, but her opinion of him changed when she found out he was...