Melina Marchetta's novel `Looking for Alibrandi' explores numerous discourses that are relevant to Australian youth. Family, multiculturalism and conformity and individualism are all discourses that are important to Australian teenagers. `Looking for Alibrandi' is the story of Josephine Alibrandi, at 17 years old she is illegitimate of Italian descent and attending a prestigious wealthy catholic school.

The discourse of family is frequently utilised in Marchetta's novel `Looking for Alibrandi'. Regardless of the arguments that Josie, Christina and Nonna have they remain very close. Josie and Christina have a `pretty good relationship, if a bit erratic' (5) however they share an unconditional love for each other. The Albrandi's relationship is contrasted towards John Barton's family, who are more concerned with `social standing and material wealth' (235) than expressing care and concern. Josie believes that these are the qualities that create happiness. Although she learns that this is not true when John Barton...