Looking for Alibrandi Free Essays

Looking for Alibrandi is a novel written by Melinda Martchetta which captivates its audiance within the first few minutes of reading with the use of different language and narrative conventions.The book itslef is about a journey to which we travel everyday. It shows us the importance of knowing who we are and who our family is. We will write a custom essay sample on Looking for Alibrandi or any similar topic only for you Order Now The issues throughout the book are so much like the ones we face on a regular basis such as depression, love. hate. expectations,betrayal and admiration, Winner of numerous awards Looking for Alibrandi shows us the harsh reality of teenage life. This novel managed to step outside all barriers as it exposed the experiences of a second generation migrant, single mother christina and her intelligent and a bit dramatic teeage daughter Josephine. Josephine is a17 year old girl in her last year at high shool and about to complete her HSC. She desperately wants to fit i with with the rest of her school friends. With friends Seraphina, Anna and Lee she dredges through every day with a hope that she will be noticed for something other than her illagitimacy. Josie as she prefers to be called is portrayed as someone who is very self absorbed but alot funny and very smart. Josie’s life is one day altered when her unknown father returns into her life after 17 years. After the inital shock of her fathers return Josie decides its time to get to know her father and a relationship begins to form. Josephine also begins to form a closer relationships with her mother and Nonna, with the help of her love interest jacob coote who teaches her about love, life and understanding. Throughout this josie learns to deal with whatever life throws at her with the sudden loss of a friend and potential soul mate John Barton. Josie deals with betrayal and loyalty with the discovery of a family secret, and realises the need for forgivness. This all helps her come to understand that she needs to come to terms with her own life, even if that means taking responsability. The plot of this novel is that for a teenage audience, it highlights the important issues in which the face. Throughout the book Josephine finds her self trapped between two worlds, ad the setting is based apon an Australian and Italian background. Josie’s family life involves things such as ‘ anual tomatoo day’, where as her Australian day to day life involes fun at the beach and such with close friends. No matter how she tries to deny it, her cultural background holds her back from living a full Australian life fully. How to cite Looking for Alibrandi, Essay examples Looking for Alibrandi Free Essays Tuesday, October 30, 2012 Looking for Alibrandi By: Melina Marchette Looking for Alibrandi is the story of Josie Alibrandi’s experiences at school, and her relationships with friends and family during her last year at St Martha’s girls’ school. This is the year her father comes back into her life, the year she falls in love and discovers the secrets of her family’s past. Josie tells us the story of her struggles with her Italian-Australian identity and the highs and lows of teenage life. We will write a custom essay sample on Looking for Alibrandi or any similar topic only for you Order Now It’s the story of a young girl who feels she doesn’t belong. She learns to cope with these feelings of insecurity and learns that everyone has similar feelings at different times. 1. Josie must learn to deal with a whole range of issues. How and why does Josie change? In Melina Marchetta’s novel, Looking for Alibrandi, Josie confronts and resolves a number of problems she has in her life. Josie’s attitudes towards her family and friends alter as she learns more about them and tries to understand them. Ultimately, Josie is not the same girl at the end of the novel as she was at the beginning. 2. Josie has conflicting feelings towards Jacob. Explain. Josie has conflicting feelings towards Jacob. â€Å"I don’t know if he’s my type†. Josie is still initially stuck on John. It is not until after his death that she realises her real feelings for Jacob. 3. Josie’s transformation from school girl to young adult is the result of major events in her personal and school life. Indeed, without these influences, Josie heightened understanding of herself and others would never have occurred. In reflecting on these experiences and understanding, how do these transformations impact her life? (This question is fit for conclusion – 2 sentences) Josie’s transformation from schoolgirl to young adult is the result of a number of major events in her personal and school life. Indeed, without these influences, Josie’s heightened understanding of herself and others would never have occurred. In reflecting on these experiences and understanding their impact on her life, Josie’s transformation is complete. 4. Josie says, â€Å"I’m not going to be trapped like them. † Does Josie seem trapped or cursed? 5. Look for examples of tradition in the family and school. In the novel, Looking for Alibrandi, Melinda Marchetta explores how Josie is initially embarrassed about being Italian but throughout the text she becomes proud of her Italian heritage. She finds Tomato Day suffocating labelling it â€Å"Nation Wog day† as she wonders, â€Å"How many other poor unfortunates our age were doing the same? † She also says, â€Å"This might be where I come from, but do I really belong here? † This however changes through hearing Katia’s story and realising the importance of her heritage. 6. Why does Josie react strongly to other characters referring to her ethnicity or using the word â€Å"wog†, even though she uses the word and is sometimes critical of her Italian heritage? 7. How does Michael Andretti appear to be adapting to his role as a father? Josie initially resents her father but comes to love and respect Michael and accept him in her life. â€Å"Stop being polite, you’re making me puke. Be angry or rude – but don’t you pretend I’m not here†. Josie rejects Michael at first, but then starts to warm to him. â€Å"I’ll ring my father – he’s a barrister†. 8. What impressions of Josie’s family do you form? What reasons does she have for wanting to â€Å"burst out of family life? † Do you sympathize with her feelings? How to cite Looking for Alibrandi, Papers