in looking for alibrandi the book why doesnt josie feel like she fits in

"You might think this is all quirky and cute, but actually I find it really embarrassing...I mean you'd think that they'd nver left Sicily except that it was 50 years ago...This might be where i come from, but do I really belong here?" This statement introduces the theme and lets the audience know how she feels. Josie feels that she doesn't belong with her family and that she doesn't identify with her culture. She then says "That's the past and you can't let the past run your life...I have got to get out of here...I'm cursed..." These statements clearly sho how Josie feels that she doesn't belong and therefore they are important because they allow the auidence to understand the theme of "searching for identity."