In the beginning of the novel, Josie craves for social status, she is not recognised or widely accepted by the Italians and her community because she is illegitimate, does not have a nuclear and wonderful family therefore people look down on her. She wants to be accepted by her peers, and wants to live in John and Ivy's social circle where there is popularity and material wealth which she believes, will bring her happiness; also, she wants to be accepted by Jacob and his peers because that will show the importance of her in his life and the acknowledgement and recognition that she is his girlfriend. She wants reconciliation of her two cultural backgrounds because she is trapped and confused about who she is and where she belongs to. She yearns to break free of...