Looking for Alibrandi

Josie is half Italian and half Australian, and often finds herself struggling to belong to either cultural group. She feels like an outsider in the Italian community, yet also at school where most students are Caucasian. Josie’s grandmother Nonna also felt alienated from the Australian community when she first moved to Sydney at 17. She was forced to marry Francesco, who was 15 years her senior. Josie learns that Nonna faced intense loneliness during her early years in Australia, as she was isolated by Australian women for not knowing any English. In learning this, Josie finds a part of her identity in her grandmother.

Josie’s journey of cultural discovery allows her to find peace and pride in her Italian background, and cherish family traditions. She learns to appreciate Nonna’s cultural habits, and acknowledges culture as essential to her identity.