Looking for Alibrandi (original 1992; edition 2006)

4 1/2 stars for this one.

This is the story of a young Italian-Australian girl in year 12 on scholarship at a posh Catholic High School. It is a coming of age story but so much more. Josie deals with so many adult situations along with the typical teenage situations like first love. We watch her grow and mature and find herself.

It's a beautiful story and expertly written. I highly recommend it to all who like YA lit. ( )

Very well done coming-of-age story and an excellent portrayal of ethnic/religious/family stresses and experiences. It also made me think of Sarah Dessen. That's not supposed to be a comparison except insofar as I was very impressed by the way each develops their coming-of-age stories and characters.

How about I also cheat a little here. There are a couple of reviews that I thought were particularly good and with which I'm in complete accordance. Here's Tatiana's review. And here's my favorite (I loved the whole dragon bit - and I've read a later Marchetta book so I get it) from Karen. They also both write complete reviews which I'm only just beginning to consider and even then only for next April. ( )

I enjoyed the roller coaster narrative of Jose's perspectives, as well as the depth afforded every character you encounter. ( )

I can see why this book was and is so popular. I went to school with Josie, Sera, Lee and Ivy, too. Oh and whatsherface, the model with the broken nose, I definitely went to school with her.

Sometimes Josie's voice is clunky and a little bit like an adult speaking through a young person. But I love her argumentativeness and how she can be so very wrong.

I don't read a lot of YA. Well, when I was YA myself books were all just books. So I'm not sure if all YA has a 'coming of age' theme. Without the charm and reality of most of the characters, Katia and Michael particularly, I wonder if I would have enjoyed it at much. ( )

I would have only given this 4 stars, had the ending not spoken to me at such a point in my life. It's funny how the right book smacks you in the head at just the right time, opening your eyes, making you feel better. Granted, this book wasn't the answer, but it made me think about things for a while. It really got to me. Now I realize that I'm the answer.

To avoid sounding vague, let me just say that I was pretty mad at the world/universe/life. In Josephine Alibrandi's words: "...Things don't turn out the way you want them to." Those words can be almost anybody's words. It's true: Life Sucks. Wouldn't things be much easier if things just turned out the way you expected them to?

I know that when the things we want to happen don't happen, it's usually for the better, but I'm still coming to terms with that.

What Looking for Alibrandi essentially left me with is:"Promise me you'll never stop dreaming."

I always have to remember that.


*4.5 stars Looking for Alibrandi is full of loving characters. I especially loved the character dynamics: Josephine's unexpected relationship with her long-absent father, her development with her grandmother, and her relationship with her boyfriend.

It's made me an official fan of Melina Marchetta.
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