LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI BY MELINA MARCHETTA
...ected each other not wanting to be apart of each others lives as father and daughter. Their relationship really thrived when Josie called Michael in for legal support. This was when Carly Bishop branded Josie as a ‘Wog’, so Josie snapped and hit Carly in the face with her science book. As they were exiting the school, Josie said, ‘I walked past my class-mates with Michael Andretti beside me and for a few minutes I knew how it felt walking beside one’s father. It was a great feeling.’ (pg90) With Michael joining Josephine’s life, completing a small, yet important part of finding her identity. The relationship that occurs between Josie and her Father differ from the relationships that she experiences with her Mother and Nonna. Josie and her mother get along like a house on fire, Josie explains, ‘My mother and I have a pretty good relationship, if a bit erratic.’(pg5) Josie’s relationship with Nonna grew throughout the novel, helping put together pieces of Josie’s Italian heritage. Nonna opened up to Josie explaining to her about her past and how it was hard for Italians to adapt to a foreign country. The Italian men were taken away from their families and the women were left to support themselves in the bush and take on the roles on men as well. Nonna met an Australian man-Marcus Stanford who helped her, yet they became closer than others knew. Josie then realised that her real grandfather was Marcus Sanford. At this point Marchetta leads the reader to believe that Josie and her Nonna’s relationship became stronger than ever before. With Josie discovering this news it helps her to uncover another part of her identity on her journey of self discovery. Josie’s friends are a major part in her life, they complete another part of her identity as an Italian Australian. Josie’s friend, John was the love of her life until she met Jacob Coote who changed her perspective on life. John Barton’s last year alive was lived full of stress, worry and under the pressures that his father put upon him. With John dying it effected Josie dramatically, they were very close friends that shared their souls with each other and then he was gone. Jacob was portrayed to the reader as a laid back Australian who was put on earth to live life to the full, have fun and break the rules. Jacob and Josie’s relationship thrived throughout the novel, but at times it also crumbled down to nothing. Josie’s friends Sera, Anna and Lee where always there for her when she needed them, through both the happy and sad times. They had been friends forever, always getting into mischief and having the time of their lives. Josie has been helped by many of her friends on her journey to find ‘Alibrandi.’ Josie has had many difficulties accepting her Italian Heritage at first; she changed as she discovered more about herself and her family. Tomato Day, commonly known as National Wog Day...