Family Relationships In Looking For Alibrandi

Peer and family relationships help to change and shape both the identity of Josie and Amal from the novels Looking for Alibrandi and Does my head look big in this? Identity is who someone is and their characteristics. Everyone has an identity though finding that identity can be a challenge but something that has to be done. Identity often changes for the good and is necessary in life. Positive and negative relationships are a key to changing someones identity. Learning from negative relationship will help as a factor to creating identity, not just believing that all relationships will be positive ones.

Josie’s family from Looking For Alibrandi are remarkably close to her and shape who she feels she is and how others perceive her. Josie takes others opinions very close to heart and this is particularly so
Amal is of strong Muslim heritage and it is actively indented in her family. This has lead her to be Muslim and for her to wear the hijab full time. This is an open symbol of her Muslim beliefs and her identity as a Muslim. At the top of her list of people who would be ok with her wearing the hijab are her mum and dad. Her relationship is strong enough that they will respect her decision. She doesn’t initially listen to her parents guidance but as their relationship constantly strengthens, she grows to trust them more and more “That’s enough, Amal’ my mum shouts, but I’m beyond control and lash out” In this situation Amal doesn’t listen to what her parents are advising her to do. However, later in the novel she respects her mother’s guidance. “I want to say something but mum holds me back.” In having a good relationships she trusts her family and adapts their knowledge of the world and how to act and respect people. Amal’s family teach her and change her perspective of people, and how they perceive of