Looking for Alibrandi Character Analysis

Josephine “Josie” Alibrandi

The protagonist of the novel, Josie is a 17-year-old Italian Australian girl living in Sydney. Over the course of the novel, she prepares for her High School Certificate (HSC) exams; reconnects with her long-lost father… read analysis of Josephine “Josie” Alibrandi

Mama

Mama is Josie’s mother and Nonna’s daughter. She’s described as being “natural” and gorgeous, as well as extremely gentle and kind. She works as a secretary for several doctors’ offices in Sydney. Mama… read analysis of Mama

Nonna Katia

Nonna is Josie’s maternal grandmother and Mama’s mother. An Italian immigrant, Nonna came to Australia with her husband, Nonno, when she was a newly married teenager in the 1930s. At first, Josie… read analysis of Nonna Katia

Nonno Francesco

Nonno was Josie’s tyrannical grandfather and Nonna’s husband; he passed away about 10 years prior to the start of the novel. He was 15 years older than Nonna when they married in Italy… read analysis of Nonno Francesco

Marcus Sandford

Marcus Sandford was Nonna’s lover when she was a young woman; he never appears in the novel except for in old photographs. Marcus was an Australian police officer who met Nonna when she lost… read analysis of Marcus Sandford

Michael Andretti

Michael is Josie’s father; he works as a barrister (lawyer) in Adelaide. When the novel begins, he’s been absent for Josie’s entire life, as he and Mama conceived Josie as teenagers—and Michael’s family moved… read analysis of Michael Andretti

Jacob Coote

Jacob Coote is Josie’s boyfriend for much of the novel. They’re the same age; he attends and is the school captain of Cook High School, a public school in Sydney. When they were children… read analysis of Jacob Coote

John Barton

John is one of Josie’s love interests at first, but over the course of the novel he becomes one of her best friends. Since Josie joined the debate team two years before the novel… read analysis of John Barton

Ivy Lloyd “Poison Ivy”

Ivy is the school captain of St. Martha’s and, for much of the novel, Josie thinks of her as an antagonist and refers to her as “Poison Ivy.” Ivy’s father is a wealthy, well-known doctor… read analysis of Ivy Lloyd “Poison Ivy”

Sister Louise

Sister Louise is the principal of St. Martha’s. Though she’s a nun, Josie describes her as “the most liberated” woman she knows. Sister Louise doesn’t wear a habit and seems to know everything about the… read analysis of Sister Louise

Anna

Anna is one of Josie’s best friends. She’s blonde and timid and so is often the target of jokes within the girls’ friend group. At the first regional dance, Anna meets Jacob’s friend… read analysis of Anna

Sera

Sera is one of Josie’s best friends. Sera is Italian, like Josie, but that’s where the similarities end: Sera’s family is wealthy, and Sera always has the fanciest clothes, hairstyles, and makeup. Sera’s love… read analysis of Sera

Lee

Lee is one of Josie’s best friends. Lee is popular and enjoys drinking and hanging out with surfers, something that Josie finds perplexing given that Lee’s father is a verbally abusive alcoholic. Josie insists… read analysis of Lee

Zia Patrizia

Zia Patrizia is Nonna’s younger sister and Josie’s great-aunt. She and her husband, Zio Ricardo, are regular fixtures at family functions. Zia Patrizia immigrated to Australia a little more than a year… read analysis of Zia Patrizia

Greg Sims

Greg Sims is a bully who assaults Josie. Years ago, Greg’s family lived next door to Josie and Mama, and he regularly tormented Josie for being illegitimate. As teenagers, Greg and his gang assault… read analysis of Greg Sims

Father Stephen

Father Stephen holds quarterly confession at St. Martha’s for students. Josie admires him and thinks he’s a wonderful mentor. He takes a practical approach to his students’ spiritual education, so, for instance, he insists on… read analysis of Father Stephen

Minor Characters

Zio Ricardo

Zio Ricardo is Zia Patrizia’s husband and one of Josie’s great-uncles. Josie adores him and thinks of him as the kind of good, strong man who isn’t around much anymore. Everyone else who speaks about him, from Nonna to Mama, confirms that Josie’s assessment is correct.

Carly Bishop

Carly is one of the “beautiful people” at St. Martha’s. Nobody likes her, but she’s gorgeous and sometimes models for the magazine Hot Pants. When she uses racist slurs one day before school, Josie hits Carly in the face with her science book and even breaks Carly’s nose.

Paul Presilio

Paul is one of Mama’s coworkers; they briefly date. Josie hates him because he seems to want to get married, and she doesn’t want to share Mama with anyone. He never appears in person in the novel.

Anton Valavic

Anton is one of Jacob’s friends. He meets Anna at the regional dance and falls for her instantly. Anton is tall and handsome, and though Sera insists Anton is “too much of a man” to take interest in Anna, their relationship is described as strong and healthy.

Robert

Robert is one of Josie’s cousins. They’re the same age and in the same grade at school, though Robert attends St. Anthony’s. Robert is a constant presence in Josie’s life, particularly at family gatherings, but Josie shares little about his personality.

Angelo Pezzini

Angelo is Sera’s boyfriend. He drives a loud car, plays obnoxious music, and no one aside from Sera likes him.

Sister Gregory

Sister Gregory is Josie’s religion teacher.

Mr. Coote

Jacob’s father, Mr. Coote, is a kindly widower. His wife died from cancer five years prior to the start of the novel.

Mr. Bishop

Mr. Bishop is Carly Bishop’s father. He’s a wealthy talk show host.