Looking for Alibrandi (Puffin Books)

Looking For Alibrandi is the first novel by Australian author, Melina Marchetta. The year that Josephine Alibrandi turned seventeen was filled with life-changing events: she had to pass her HSC; she met her father for the first time; she fell in love; she learned some shocking facts about her family; and someone close to her committed suicide. She also learned the importance of family, of knowing her history, of being responsible, of having good friends and of being one. Marchetta’s novel touches on reputation, on the stigma of illegitimacy in certain cultures, on sex in young adults, on the assimilation of different cultures and on the expectation to follow in parents footsteps. It is easy to see how this novel would appeal to younger readers: the issues are relevant even if references to songs, events and personalities mean that it is a bit dated now. It is no surprise that it won the 1993 Children’s Book of the Year Award for Older Readers, the 1993 Multicultural Book of the Year Award and the 1993 Variety Club Young People’s Category of the 3M Talking Book of the Year Award. A moving read.