Change. It's a rather daunting concept to behold by most individuals in today's day and age, as it represents unfamiliarity. Change is what many may not be able to be prepared for, not so much because of the transformation itself, but because of the consequences of said transformation. Melina Marchaetta's 'Looking for Alibrandi', Michael Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror', and the prescribed visual all detail not only change, but the effects and repercussions. Within Looking for Alibrandi, a mental journey of both growth in maturity and growth in the understanding of the social constructs of Josephine's world are explored, through a story told in retrospect. As the story begins, we see a young Josephine Alibrandi who lives life without a care for true struggle within the world, but with the introduction of various characters and plot devices throughout the story that challenge her outlook upon her life, we see an alteration in the protagonist's thoughts and moral values. Dialogue is used primarily throughout the book in highly emotional or pivotal moments throughout the narrative, allowing the character's conflicting interests to be expressed without necessarily having to follow Josephine's sole perspective. These said moments are what truly define the individuality and growth developing within not only Josie, but other characters within the book who have been affected by her actions and her presence. A prime example of this would be her relationships with Jacob Coote and John Barton, who both have an impact upon her life. Her deeply emotional talks with both Jacob and John cause her to re-evaluate what she desires in her life, and are deeply rooted within her desires to grow and strike out as an individual. John's suicide, in particular, shakes Josephine to her core, causing to her re-assess everything that she is. Melina Marchetta ensures that readers will take note of the abrupt shock within Josie and the plot itself, as it triggers more events to occur within the rest of the latter half of the book. "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change." These lyrics from Michael Jackson's 'Man In the Mirror' appear repeatedly throughout his song , as
