basics

• What type of novel is "Anita and Me"?

  Bildungsroman
• Who wrote "Anita and Me"?

  Meera Syal
• What is the main theme of "Anita and Me"?

  Coming-of-age and cultural identity
• In what year was "Anita and Me" published?

  1996
• Who is the narrator of the story?

  Meena Kumar
• Where does Meena Kumar live?

  Tollington
• What type of community does Meena live in?

  Working-class community
• What societal issues does Syal address in the novel?

  Poverty and racism
• How does Meena's family create a sense of community?

  By forming close-knit relationships with other immigrants
• How does Meena's friendship with Anita Rutter affect her?

  It exposes her to different values and challenges
• What does Meena struggle with in her identity?

  Balancing Indian traditions and English culture
• What does Meena steal from her mother?

  Diamond necklace
• How does Meena feel about her parents' expectations?

  She feels rebellious and confused
• Who does Meena meet in Chapter 3?

  Anita Rutter
• What does Anita's behavior reveal about her character?

  She seeks to control her friends
• How does Meena's relationship with her mother change?

  She begins to question her mother's views
• What does Meena's father share about his past?

  His experiences during the Partition
• What does Meena's mother prepare to comfort her?

  Fish fingers
• How does Meena feel about the English culture?

  She admires its liberation
• What does Meena experience during Diwali?

  She steals her mother's necklace
• How does Meena react to racism she experiences?

  She feels powerless and angry
• What does Meena's relationship with Anita lead to?

  Conflict and betrayal
• What happens to Meena's mother in Chapter 6?

  She goes to the hospital to deliver
• What does Meena learn about her grandmother's past?

  Hardships during British colonization
• How does Meena's view of Anita change throughout the novel?

  She sees Anita's vulnerability and struggles
• What does Meena do after leaving the hospital?

  Focuses on her studies
• What does Meena realize about her friendships by the end of the novel?

  They are influenced by their environment
• How does Meena's family dynamic change after her father's promotion?

  They consider moving to a more diverse area
• What does Meena's father read about in the newspaper?

  An Indian man injured in a racist attack
• How does Meena feel about her identity at the end of the novel?

  She reflects on where home really is
• What does the For Sale sign outside Meena's house symbolize?

  A transition to a more diverse community
• What does Meena's relationship with her family and friends reveal about her identity?

  It highlights her struggle with cultural expectations