The novel, ‘Looking For Alibrandi’, explores important ideas through a cleverly crafted narrative. The book discusses these themes using a range of different techniques to get us as readers to connect with the main character. Some of the themes raised are; teen depression/suicide, social expectations, multiculturalism, growing up, racism, identity and belonging, peer pressure, adversity, and family. We explore these themes as a young teenage girl, named Josephine, who has Italian heritage and struggles to fit in with the Australian culture, as well as her own. She is illegitimate, and doesn’t know who she is. The book lets us see through her eyes, in a cleverly crafted narrative way.
The first themes explored in the book, are identity, belonging and growing up. Josie has a hard time finding out who she is, and what her role is. She is searching for herself in a world that rejects her. She is illegitimate, of middle class, has Italian background, and is Catholic. We are told the story in first person, which ties us closer to Josie. She says “After spending a lifetime trying to fit in somewhere in life and almost getting there I’m back at the beginning again.” This shows us how hard it is for her. It makes us feel sad for her and therefore gives us an emotional attachment to her. This quote was taken from the book ‘Looking For …show more content…
In Chapter 28, we find out that John Barton has killed himself the night before. We see this unfold through Josie’s eyes, and this helps us understand how hard a time like this is for everyone. Josie’s reaction to John’s death is “I looked at her in numb shock. My mouth opened to say something but not a sound came out.” The quote shows us how shocked Josie is by his death, and the effect it had on his friends. It gives us a lot of emotion through cleverly used words and makes us feel sorry for Josie. Quote taken from the book ‘Looking for
The first themes explored in the book, are identity, belonging and growing up. Josie has a hard time finding out who she is, and what her role is. She is searching for herself in a world that rejects her. She is illegitimate, of middle class, has Italian background, and is Catholic. We are told the story in first person, which ties us closer to Josie. She says “After spending a lifetime trying to fit in somewhere in life and almost getting there I’m back at the beginning again.” This shows us how hard it is for her. It makes us feel sad for her and therefore gives us an emotional attachment to her. This quote was taken from the book ‘Looking For …show more content…
In Chapter 28, we find out that John Barton has killed himself the night before. We see this unfold through Josie’s eyes, and this helps us understand how hard a time like this is for everyone. Josie’s reaction to John’s death is “I looked at her in numb shock. My mouth opened to say something but not a sound came out.” The quote shows us how shocked Josie is by his death, and the effect it had on his friends. It gives us a lot of emotion through cleverly used words and makes us feel sorry for Josie. Quote taken from the book ‘Looking for