Looking for Alibrandi: Chapter 24 Summary & Analysis

When Josie sees Jacob, dressed in activewear and waiting for her to get off the bus, she wonders if they’ll ever fit together (she’s still in her conservative school uniform). Jacob kisses her and asks after Michael. Josie says that Michael is convinced Jacob is thinking about sex, and Jacob says it’s true. They discuss Michael’s girlfriend and Josie admits that she’s worried. She’s sad he’s going back to Adelaide, and she also thinks her parents should get back together. But that’d be weird, too; Josie has never had to share Mama before. Jacob notes that Josie should expect Mama to get married, since Mama is so beautiful.

When they get to Josie’s house, Josie curses—Nonna is visiting. Jacob is glad to finally get to meet her, but Josie refuses to introduce him. She explains that she hasn’t told Nonna about him—Nonna will be angry, and Josie doesn’t want to jeopardize her relationship with Nonna now that it’s finally improving. Jacob is offended that Josie hasn’t told Nonna about him and points out that Josie is 17—and he insists that this wouldn’t be a problem if he were John. But Josie explains that no matter how old she is, Nonna will still care about who’s she dating. And she doesn’t want Nonna to stop talking to her.

Jacob is incensed. He shouts that Josie is just complicating his life. Josie shouts back that it’ll never work between them—Jacob can do what he wants because he lives “without religion and culture.” Jacob says that he wants to meet Nonna because then, he’ll know Josie isn’t ashamed of him. But Josie shakes her head. Jacob walks away. Josie doesn’t fully understand why she’s hesitating, though she does realize that Nonna won’t be impressed by Jacob. But she doesn’t want to lose Nonna—or Jacob.

So the next afternoon, Josie goes to Jacob’s house. She’s never been in his neighborhood before and is nervous, but she feels better when four girls in school uniforms smile at her. When Josie knocks, Jacob answers the door looking angry. He mocks her by saying he’s not ready to introduce Josie to his dad, who would be offended that he’s dating a non-Australian. They argue in the doorway until Jacob’s dad comes to the door and asks what’s going on. When Jacob introduces Josie, Mr. Coote drags Josie inside and says he’s ready to meet the girl Jacob keeps talking about. Josie realizes she’s not ashamed of Jacob. She realizes Jacob is a lot like Marcus Sandford, and she believes Nonna will see the resemblance.

Mr. Coote makes Josie a cup of tea and asks Josie what she’s going to do after school. Josie says she doesn’t know, but Jacob snaps that she’s going into law. Mr. Coote laughs that Josie’s awfully smart to be with Jacob. Jacob storms away to his room, so Josie has tea with Mr. Coote. Mr. Coote treats Josie “like a queen” and says that Jacob’s just upset because he’s so aware of his place in the world.

Josie excuses herself from the kitchen and finds Jacob in his room. She compliments a picture of Jacob’s mother and then sits down and tells him he’s good enough. After a while, Josie climbs onto the bed and kisses him. He’s thrilled that she made the first move. They continue to kiss as Jacob puts his hands under Josie’s shirt. They kiss and touch each other until Josie realizes she’s going to lose her virginity with Mr. Coote in the next room. She asks Jacob to stop, even though he says he has a condom. Jacob says they’ll eventually sleep together and it might as well be now, but Josie refuses. She insists she could get pregnant or “catch AIDS,” and says she might stay a virgin until she’s 20.

Jacob shakes his head and says that modern women don’t have to be virgins, but Josie says that modern women also don’t have to allow themselves to be bullied into sex. She refuses to have sex for the first time now, in her school uniform, just because Jacob says that everyone else is having sex. Josie also insists that she’s not sure she and Jacob love each other. After a minute of silence, Jacob awkwardly says that he loves Josie a bit. Josie says she loves him a bit, too. Josie says they can still kiss. A while later, Jacob drives Josie home, and Mama seems to know what they’ve been up to.