In the novel, "Looking for Alibrandi," by Melina Marchetta, seventeen year old Josephine accepting her culture, and meeting, and developing a relationship with her father, Michael Andretti. These circumstances change Josephine from the person she was at the beginning of the novel to the person she became at the end of the novel. Josephine's culture and family expectations have a positive impact on her life choices and her identity. In the end, Josephine was able to accept her culture and traditions. She was also able to strengthen her relationships with her loved ones by learning to understand them. Finally, Josephine was able to learn from mistakes as well as make better choices. Alibrandi is introduced. Josephine is like many teenagers, she struggles with relationships, her identity, family expectations and much more. Throughout the novel, Josephine's striving to find herself and reach her emancipation. Along the way, Josephine went through many changes and developments, caused by important events in her life; including discovering her family secret, .
At the beginning of novel, Josephine had a strong desire to be accepted in society. "My mother was born here so far as the Italians were concerned we weren't completely one of them. Yet because my grandparents were born in Italy we weren't completely Australian."(marchetta 7). Josephine was not fond of her Italian ethnicity. She viewed her Italian culture and traditions as a barrier that separated her from society. "I think if it comes down to the bottom line, no matter how smart I am, or how much I achieve, I am always going to be a little ethnic from Glebe as far as these people are concerned." (marchetta 167). As Josephine spent more time with her nonna, she began to see her culture as a gift; something that differentiated her from everyone else. "Well, I'm not sure whether everyone in this country will ever understand multiculturalism and that saddens me, because it's as much a part of Australian life as football and meat pies.