Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Looking for Alibrandi

by Melina Marchetta

For as long as Josephine Alibrandi can remember, it’s just been her, her mom, and her grandmother. Now it’s her final year at a wealthy Catholic high school. The nuns couldn’t be any stricter—but that doesn’t seem to stop all kinds of men from coming into her life.

Caught between the old-world values of her Italian grandmother, the nononsense wisdom of her mom, and the boys who continue to mystify her, Josephine is on the ride of her life. This will be the year she falls in love, the year she discovers the secrets of her family’s past—and the year she sets herself free.

Told with unmatched depth and humor, this novel—which swept the pool of Australian literary awards and became a major motion picture—is one to laugh through and cry with, to cherish and remember.

Reviewed by notajammiedodger on

5 of 5 stars

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Looking for Alibrandi is the second book by Melina Marchetta that I have read. My first was On the Jellicoe Road, which is one of my favourite books. I was really looking forward to reading more of Marchetta's books and am glad that this one lived up to my expectations :) I loved it, but not as much as I love On the Jellicoe Road.

Josephine Alibrandi is in her last year of high school. A lot of things happen in Josie's life this year, she meets her father for the first time in her life, falls in love and learns the secrets of her family's past. As always Marchetta creates a beautifully realistic world with characters that have realistic flaws and ambitions.

I love the characters in this stories. Jacob Coote reminded me a lot of Judd Nelson from The Breakfast Club :P If you haven't seen, I recommend you do. Fantastic movie. I personally think that Marchetta writes very crush worthy guys in her books, of the two that I have read do far anyway :P I love Jacob, he's sweet and wonderful and he has that whole bad boy thing going on. Love it. Sera annoyed me a little, but I guess that was kind of the idea. Once we got to know her more, I loved Nonna.

I can foresee myself becoming a big Melina Marchetta fan :P I loved this book. I am really glad that I read it. I look forward to reading Saving Francesca, and other books by her. If you haven't read this book or On the Jellicoe Road I would highly recommend you give them a go. I love them both.

This review is also on my blog The Confessions of a Book Nerd :)

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 August, 2011: Finished reading
  • 30 August, 2011: Reviewed