Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 21

Plot summary


Josie and John went to watch Macbeth at the movies, and when they were getting things to eat, Josie turned around and saw Jacob behind them. She was really scared because Jacob was furious, she walked   over to talk to him and all his friends came asking isn't she your girlfriend. Jacob was really angry and Josie was crying when they left the movies. Josie kept crying and crying at the bus stop and Jacob came back for and they made up.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Josie had a hard time trying to explain to Jacob that she only came to the movies to watch Macbeth with John and they were just friends.

Important Quotations


"I didn't experience the same rush of excitement I would have felt a few months ago, but I was glad he called after all." (pg 186)
"My heart stopped for one single second when I found myself facing Jacob on the other side of the room. His arms were folded and he was looking at me furiously." (pg 187)
"Jacob pushed him back roughly. John, in turn, pushed him back gently. I don't know who got on my nerves more." (pg 189)

Personal Response


I think that Jacob shouldn't always get angry with Josie, and its no big deal that Josie is going to the movies with a guy, because she already said that John is her friend.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


aggregates - collections of particulars in whole sum, mass, total or combined

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 20

Plot summary


Josie found out that she was elected school captain, but because Sister Louise thinks she's not responsible enough, she gave the job to Poison Ivy.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Josie found out she was elected school captain but then she as given vice captain and she felt really sad.

Important Quotations


"I began to feel uneasy then. What if there was a roll call at one of the stops? What if the police were looking for four missing girls? What if my mother received a call from the school saying I was missing?" (pg 178)
"Tuesday morning, four names were called out and I don't think I have to tell you whose names they were. Sister handed us back our sponsor sheets with such anger that I felt each sheet fan my face with the force of an air-conditioner." (pg180)
"Sister Louise looked at us all with such disgust that I felt sick to the stomach. I think at that moment I would rather have been dead than disgusting." (pg 180)
"I was embarrassed because I was crying, but I didn't realise until then how much it meant to me to be a prefect." (pg 183)
"I was wrong, I thought to myself. I honestly believed it. Not because Sister Louise told me or because she made me believe I was. I knew deep down that I was wrong and I think that my emancipation began at that moment." (pg 185)

Personal Response


I think that Sister Louise is really mean and that she should of given the job to Josie even though she might of not been as responsible as Ivy at that time, but i'm pretty sure if Sister Louise gave the job to Josie she would of learnt the responsibility.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


emancipation - the act of freeing or state of being free

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 19

Plot summary


It is Tomato Day and everyone was at nonna's house, also Josie found out a lot about nonna's past.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)

Important Quotations


"I thought that maybe if I spoke to someone they would feel sorry for us and send u back one man. Maybe all out husbands." (pg 174)
"Marcus walked through holding something in his arms. He was crying. I was crying. Patrizia was crying. We walked towards him looking at what he had in his arms." (pg 175)
"Like all tomato days we had spaghetti that night. Made by our own hands. A tradition that we'll never let go. A tradition that I probably will never let go of either, simply because like religion, culture is nailed into you so deep you can't escape it. No matter how far you run." (pg 175)

Personal Response


Josie's family is really traditional and they follow their culture.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


reminiscing - to recall past experiences or events

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 18

Plot summary


Jacob gave Josie a surprise after she finished work, it was a holden car and Jacob fixed the car himself. He was very proud of himself and that Josie didn't have to sit on a motorbike anymore.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)

Important Quotations


" This year is going by so fast. It's already more than halfway through and I still feel unsettled. I always thought that I'd start university with a fresh mind and no problems." (pg 165)
" You may have known him all your life, Ivy, but I think that I know how he feels a bit more than you do." (pg 167)
" I pictured myself with Jacob Coote for the rest of my life." (pg 170)

Personal Response


I think Jacob Coote is a really nice guy and he likes Josie so much.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


audacity - boldness or daring, especially with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety
grotesque - odd or in unnatural in shape

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 17

Plot summary


In this chapter Josie and Michael drove to Adelaide to work. Josie also got to feel really close to her dad when they went. They also talked how her mum and him met and that they didn't like each other at first but then fell in love with each other.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Josie found out the Michael has a girlfriend in Adelaide.

Important Quotations


" Six months ago I hadn't met my father and I didn't want to. These days I see him three times a week and the day I don't see him he rings me. Somehow we've  developed a great relationship." (pg 156)
" Remembered how I said that night time cares me a lot because I feel as if everyone could be dead? We'll just being able to hear Michael snoring made the night time sound so alive." (pg 164)

Personal Response


I think that this chapter Josie got to find out a lot about her parents and that she grew closer to Michael in this chapter.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


stilted - stiffly dignified or formal, as speech or literary style
interrogates - to ask questions, especially formally or officially
ambiguous - open to or having several  possible meanings or interpretations

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 16

Plot summary


Today Josie and Jacob wagged school to go on a date. They found out a lot of things about each other that they don't really know about.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


When Josie and Jacob were on the beach, Josie felt really attached to Jacob and Josie could see them being a married couple and were together forever.

Important Quotations


"Sometimes he's a tough guy and I can imagine him bashing someone's head in and other times he's this real nice sensitive guy who smiles at babies and helps old woman across the street." (pg 150)
"I sat with my head against him and listened to his heart beat, I felt that I would never be closer to another human being again." (pg 154)

Personal Response


I think that Josie and Jacob are a really sweet couple.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


etcetera - a number of other things or persons unspecified
bifocalled - having two portions, one for near and one for far vision
submissive - rebellious or disobedient

Looking For Alibrandi - Chapter 15

Plot summary


Josie and her friends were at Harley's talking, and Anton, Jacob and their other friends walks in and makes fun of Anna and dirtied their scarf. After Josie couldn't stand them and left. Anna and Josie went to walk on the beach and then later they left and Josie was talking to Robert's friend at the bus stop. After Robert's friend left Jacob and Josie were talking at the bus stop and then Jacob asked Josie to give him another chance.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Anna had to try and get over how Jacob's friends were bullying her and dirtied her pure silk scarf.

Important Quotations


"Are you threatening me, Josie? You of all people can never say anything to embarrass me. People talk about you enough." (pg 142)
"But when he drinks he's abusive. Not physically, though, but verbally." (pg 143)
"I sat on the bus grinning from ear to ear" (pg 148)

Personal Response


I think that Jacob's friends were really mean to Anna and that they shouldn't treat her that way. Also Josie is a really good friend.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


melodrama - a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates emotion and emphasises plot or action at the expense of characterisation

Looking For Alibrandi - Chapter 14

Plot summary

Josie and John met at the Sydney Library, they decided to go for a cup of coffee at Harley's. They were talking about there HSC exam that coming up and that John has everything worked up because he couldn't get first in a maths competition and he was really scared about his father.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)

John keeps thinking that his father will kill him because he isn't getting first in everything.

Important Quotations

"His eyes couldn't settle in the one place and if I didn't know him better I could have sworn he was on drugs." (pg 132)
"He shook his head, clamping his mouth together into a thin line." (pg133)

Personal Response

I think that John's dad is giving John a very hard time and keeps putting pressure on John. Also I think John depends on Josie a lot as well and they have a really strong relationship

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


atheist - a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a superior being

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 13

Plot summary


Josie and Jacob had a ten minute date at the movies and it didn't turn out as it was imagined and Josie was stolling the streets at night. While Josie was walking Michael was in the car following her and Michael took her to get pizza and Josie told him the whole story. They were getting along with each other.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Christina didn't like Jacob and how he was dressed and this got onto Josie's nerves and she threw a tantrum at Jacob and this was at the start of their very first date.

Important Quotations


"Every day, every minute and every hour. What is it, by the way, that fascinated you people so much with black? she asked." (pg 119)
"He, instead, wore the oldest jeans I have ever seen and his jumper had holes at the sleeves." (pg 120)
"He also hadn't shaved for days. No trendy designer stubble though. Just this 'hood' look" (pg 120)
"He grunted at me, Josie. I felt as if I was conversing with a pig." (pg 121)
"When we forgot the fact that biologically he was my father, we could be friends." (pg 126)

Personal Response


I think that Jacob could of been a bit careless, beacuse Josie wanted him to give a good reputation to her mum so that she could go out with him, but this became a who new thing that Christina would be worried about.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


ethnic - referring to the origin, classification, characteristics
obnoxious - highly objectionable or offensive
sullen - showing irritation or ill humor

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 12

Plot summary


Nonna was telling Josie how her nonno was a very jealous man and that he was jealous how an Australian man was visiting his wife. Also nonna told Josie how she coped with Australia, since she didn't know any english and she was in a foreign country where no one understood her.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Nonna had to cope with a foreign country.

Important Quotations


"Don't believe that. My grandmother, like most Europeans, has this obsession about dirt. She cleans her house at least five times a week." (pg 114)
"He was a very jealous man. He said it was wrong that this man would come to visit a married woman. He even trampled the garden." (pg116)
"I hope I never have to live in a country where I can't communicate with my neighbour."(pg 118)

Personal Response


Nonna had a really hard time at a foreign place.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


pensive - dreamily or wistful thought

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 11

Plot summary


Josie is asking her mum if she can go out with Jacob Coote on Saturday and Christina is getting worried what will happen to Josie on that day.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Josie has to convince her mum to let her go on a date with Jacob

Important Quotations


"Her dressing gown is like a security blanket to her. I'm sure they'll bury her in it." (pg 111)
"You mightn't regret things you've done in your life, but I sure do regret things I say."(pg 113)

Personal Response


Christina is a really strict mum when is comes down to guys.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 10

Plot summary


Jacob Coote help saved Josie from Greg and Jacob took Josie home while Anton took Anna home. When Jacob took Josie home he asked her what happened and he wanted Josie to be his girlfriend. Also they organised a date on Saturday to go to the movies.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


After seven years Josie meets Greg Sims again at McDonalds, where Josie was working. Greg Sims didn't want to pay but Josie made him so after work Greg and his friends ganged up on Josie and Annd. But luckily Jacob Coote was there and he saved them.

Important Quotations


"I wondered for a second where Anna had got such strength from. But it wasn't Anna who was bashing Greg Sim's face on the ground. It was Jacob Coote." (pg 104)
"It's not like the movies where everything seems so gallant and romantic. It's savage and bloody and I cried because I felt that I would never see anything so ugly again." (pg 104)
"The hoods left after that. Slitheres away like snakes more like it." (pg 105)

Personal Response


I think Jacob Coote is very protective over Josephine and he cares a lot about her. He was trying to act before that he didn't like Josie, but at the end he still admitted it.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


distaste - dislike
feigned - pretended, fictitious, disguised
bile - ill temper

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 9

Plot summary


Josie didn't want her mum to go out with the surgeon called Paul Presilio. So they had a huge fight, but after a while they both felt sorry and apologised, even though it wasn't their fault.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Paul Presilio is a new character in this chapter, he goes out on a dat with Christina, but Josie doesn't like him.

Important Quotations


"We call them the penguins because of them wearing wimples and all the Sound of Music gear."(pg 91)
"They're the same old tyrants who terrorised children in the sixties." (pg 93)
"I stood by my desk and stuck my fingers in my ears so I could ignore her but she walked over and pushed me back." (pg 98)
"She slammed my door and i wanted to cry. Because i didn't want to take that feeling away from Mama. I just didn't want him to give it to her." (pg 99)

Personal Response


I think that Josie doesn't want to lose her mother that why she doesn't want her mum to go out with anyone, even though she said it was because she didn't like Paul.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


tyrants - a ruler who uses power unjustly
prominent - standing out so as to be easily seen

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 8

Plot summary


Josie hit Carly Bishop in the face because Carly called Josie a wog. They went to see Sister Louise and Ron Bishop, Carly's dad wants to sue Josie. Also Carly was getting on Josie's nerves saying that see didn't have a lawyer and that she didn't have a father. So out of anger Josie told them that she did have a father and she had to call Michael to help her.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Carly Bishop is a new character introduced in this chapter. She is a model and her dad is a morning talk show host. Also in this chapter it also tells us that when Josie is in trouble all she thinks of is Michael Andretti and how he can help her. Josie is starting to rely on Michael.

Important Quotations


"God knows what possessed me, but having that science book in my hand propelled me to immediate action. So I hit her with it." (pg 82)
"Yeah sure. My mother's the Virgin Mary and i;m the Immaculate conception." (pg 84)
"I knew how it felt walking alongside one's father. It was a great feeling." (pg 90)

Personal Response


I think that even though u hate a person you can always find something that you like about them. Like how Josie hated Michael but when she is in trouble the first person she rings is him.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


expulsion - the state of being expelled
spiel - usually a high flown speech or talk

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 7

Plot summary


Josie had to go over and sleep at nonna's. She was tell her how her life was hard when she got married and that she thought she was moving to America but then she found out that she was moving to Australia, a place that no one was familiar with.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


It was hard for nonna to leave her family and move to a place she has never heard before with her husband. She found that Australia was very different to Italy and she wanted to go back.

Important Quotations


"If life was a silent movie I'd be able to see the captions under their faces." (pg 73)

Personal Response


I personally think that nonna had a really hard time adapting to the new society and she is a great wife because never thought of leaving her husband and going back to Italy.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


crocheted - needlework done with a needle having a small hook at one end for drawing the thread or yarn through intertwined loops.

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 6

Plot summary


Michael Andretti is back and he doesn't want Josie as a daughter, but he will give them money if they really need it, but Christina just told him to leave them alone and never come back.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Josie has to be tough to protect her mother, even though she is kind of happy that her dad is back, she wants him to know that even though he is back she wouldn't leave her mum.

Important Quotations


"My second encounter with Michael Andretti happened today at my grandmother's house." (pg 64)
"Do me a favour, Christina,' he said. 'Don't pity me. My life lacks nothing."(pg 66)
"Then go, Michael. Forget you ever spoke to me. Forget you ever saw her. You did it once. I'm sure you can do it again."(pg 66)
"Stop being polite. You're making me puke. Be angry or be rude to me, but don't be polite,' I said angrily."(pg68)
"Okay,' he snapped back. 'A promise. You keep out of my life, I keep out of yours." (pg 69)

Personal Response


I think that even thought Michael doesn't want Josie as a daughter he shouldn't of said it to Christina. Even if Josie agreed to stay out of Michael's life i think she still wants a dad.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


tapestry - a fabric which coloured threads arewoven by hand to produce a design, often pictorial, used for wall hangings, furniture coverings, etc.

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 5

Plot summary


Josie went to regional dance and Jacob Coote asked her to dance with her. The whole night Josie wanted to dance with John but John never came up and asked her to dance and also Poison Ivy was with John the whole night. After the dance ended Jacob Coote took Josie home and they made a spark in their relationship.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


When Jacob and Josie were walking to Jacob's bike, they met John and Poison Ivy on the way and Josie was scared that John took it the wrong way and thought that Jacob was her boyfriend.

Important Quotations


"I look over to her with little patience. 'I feel like the Virgin Mary with this neckline.' (pg 51)
"I didn't want John thinking that I had been picked up at the dance by just anyone and i could almost hear his mind ticking." (pg 57)

Personal Response


I think in this chapter the characters are really confused between the relationships.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


feigning - to represent fictitiously or put an appearance of
vagueness -not clearly stated or expressed

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 4

Plot summary


Today Josie has a debate against St. Anthony and she meets her crush, John Barton. They talk about how John Barton's dad is making him study law and become a politician. Also Poison Ivy joins in and talks to John like she's the only girl for John.

Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


John Barton is introduced in this chapter, he is one of the politician's son and also the school captan of St. Anthony.

Important Quotations


"I was surprised at his bitterness and tried to cut the mood." (pg 46)
"he laughed, but somehow not humorously. There was a darkness in his eyes that had nothing to do with colour." (pg 46)
"'A Ferrari?' I asked, hocked. 'I'd Kiss the dirtiest part of the ground just for a second-hand Mini." (pg 48)

Personal Response


In this chapter, you can see how close Josie and John are and that even though John is from a rich family he wants to be like a normal person and choose what he wants to study and not what his dad wants him to study.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


inept - without skill for a particular task

Looking For Alibrandi - Chapter 3

Plot summary


In this chapter, Josie meets her dad, Michael for the second time and Josie also gets to look carefully at her dad's appearance and their resemblance. They also  have their first conversation, even though it was short Josie still wanted to know more about Michael and vice versa.


Challenges faced by the Character(s)/information revealed about character(s)


Josephine finally meets her dad after seventeen years, and her dad's appearance isn't the way Josie thought he would be.


Important Quotations


"Rituals. They come and they go, but the ritual of having to see my grandmother every afternoon drives me absolutely insane" (pg 33)
"She says it with a painful cry in her voice as if she is dying." (pg 34)
"'Mama is good to you, nonna,' I shouted angrily. 'If she is ever rude to you it's because you pester her about every single thing possible." (pg 36)
" I thought he'd tall. He wasn't. I thought he's be good looking. He wasn't. I thought he'd look like a weakling. He didn't." (pg 38)


Personal Response 


I think this chapter is about how Josie doesn't like his dad, not because he was mean to her, but how Michael keeps ringing Christina to be up to date about everything that has happened to Josie


Definition of 3 difficult words encountered


meddling - to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation
emancipated - to free from restraint and influence

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 2

Plot Summary

In this chapter, Josie goes to 'Have a Say Day.' She is chosen to say a speech and she only has 10 minutes to get ready. When it was finally her turn she was talking about AIDS and how it can effect our life.

Challenges faced by the character(s)/information revealed about character(s)

When Josie is at 'Have a Say Day', she meets Jacob Coote which is a guy from Cook High, also in Year 10 Jacob Coote threw two eggs at Josie and they squashed against Josie's glasses

 

Important Quotations

"...if you're an outcast with your own kind, you'll never be accepted by anyone."(pg 20)

Personal Response

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered

mundane - everyday, ordinary or banal

Looking for Alibrandi - Chapter 1

Plot summary

The reader is introduced to the main character and narrator of the story, Josephine Alibrandi. The reader finds that Josephine goes to St. Martha's High School with a scholarship. In this chapter they also tell us about the relationship between Josephine and her mother and nonna.

Challenges faced by the character(s)/information revealed about character(s)

The narrator is established as a typical teenager, worried about issues such as relationships with peers and teachers. Josephine as friends such as Sera, Anna and Lee, who influence her life greatly.

Important quotations(supporting evidence)

"My biggest problem though is being stuck at school dominated by rich people...who i can't see having a problem in the world."(pg 6)

"I felt disadvantaged from the beginning. Maybe because i hadn't gone to the same primary school as them. Or maybe because I received the six year English scholarship."(pg 7)

"Being respectable and made the acceptable."(pg 6)

Personal Response

This chapter shows us how Josie feels insecure because she is an outsider, also she thinks she doesn't fit into her school very well.

Definition of 3 difficult words encountered

illegitimacy - born of parents who were not married to each at the time of birth.

feminism - social, political and other things that women and men are equal

masculinity - having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness