Lucy Lam is the main character in Laurinda by Alice Pung. She is a Vietnamese-Australian girl from a working-class family. Lucy gets a scholarship to a fancy school called Laurinda Ladies' College, where most of the students are rich. At this school, Lucy faces many challenges as she tries to fit in while staying true to herself.
Class and Privilege: Lucy’s story shows the difference between her family’s working-class background and the wealthy world at Laurinda. She learns how to deal with feeling different.
Cultural Identity: Lucy’s Vietnamese background is important to her. Even though she feels out of place at Laurinda, she wants to stay true to her culture.
Being Yourself: Lucy struggles with whether to be like the other girls at Laurinda or stay true to herself. In the end, she learns to be herself, no matter what.
By the end of the story, Lucy feels strong and confident. She learns how to be part of Laurinda without losing who she is. Her journey is about staying true to yourself and doing the right thing.
Feeling Different: Because Lucy is on a scholarship, she feels out of place at Laurinda. She notices how the students treat each other and isn’t afraid to speak up when things don’t seem right.
Finding Herself: Some popular girls at Laurinda try to make Lucy part of their group, but she isn’t sure if she wants to join them. Lucy tries to figure out who she really is and what kind of person she wants to be.
Becoming Confident: Over time, Lucy starts to feel stronger and more confident. At first, she feels unsure about her place at the school, but by the end, she learns how to stand up for herself and what she believes in.
Doing the Right Thing: Lucy always tries to do the right thing. Even though the popular girls want her to join them, Lucy refuses to change who she is or hurt others to fit in. She shows courage and fairness by standing up to them.