Plot and Action
Plot summary
Preface and Chapters 1–2: The tomboy liar of Tollington, Chapters 3–4: Meeting Anita, the neighbours, and the Kumars and their friends, Chapter 5: Diwali, the fair and a dangerous adventure, Chapters 6–8: Sunil, the fete and Nanima’s visit, Chapters 9–11: Meena and Anita, Chapters 12–13: Climax and resolution, Revision focus: Relationship timelinePreface and Chapter 1: Introductions and a guilty confession
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key characters: Meena, her parents and Anita, Key quotation: Making up the truth, Key form: Meena’s digressions, Exam focus: Writing about Meena’s parentsChapter 2: Mama and the aunties
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key characters: Mama and the aunties, Key language: Imagery, Key theme: Culture, Aiming high: Comment on ironyChapter 3: Getting to know Anita and other neighbours
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Friendship, Key characters: Local characters, Revision focus: The present moment and digressionsChapter 4: Indian heritage and family values
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Truth and fiction, Key quotation: History, Exam focus: Writing about cultural differences, Key characters: Mama and PapaChapter 5, part 1: The fair arrives at Diwali (pp. 88–106)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Top tip: Writing about racism, Key theme: Growing up, Key context: Indian religionsChapter 5, part 2: Dangerous adventures (pp. 106–30)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key theme: Friendship, Key theme: Culture, Key character: Sam Lowbridge, Aiming high: Comment on structureChapter 6: Sunil is born and Meena has her tenth birthday
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key context: Jackie magazine, Key character: Meena the misfit, Exam focus: Writing about how Meena changesChapter 7: The spring fete
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Racism, Revision focus: Comic exaggeration, Key theme: ChangeChapter 8: Nanima’s visit
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Nanima, Key character: Meena, Aiming high: Comment on foreshadowing, Key quotation: ImageryChapters 9 and 10: Anita and Fat Sally fight
Summary, Why are these chapters important?, Key character: Anita, Key language: Violence and drama, Exam focus: Writing about Meena’s relationship with Anita, Top tip: Writing about contradictionsChapter 11: The diggers arrive
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key structure: Building to a climax, Revision focus: Seeing plot connections, Key language: Syal’s use of imageryChapter 12: Meena in hospital
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key setting: The hospital, Top tip: Writing about Meena’s separation from Anita, Key quotation: Meena’s accident, Key character: RobertCharacters
Meena
Meena’s role in the novel, Meena’s importance to the novel as a whole, Exam focus: Writing about Meena, Key quotation: Meena’s need for dramaAnita
Anita’s role in the novel, Anita’s importance to the novel as a whole, Exam focus: Writing about Anita, Top tip: Anita’s effect on others, Aiming high: A fully rounded characterThe Aunties and Uncles
The role of the Aunties and Uncles in the novel, Exam focus: Writing about Shaila and the Aunties and UnclesDeirdre and Tracey Rutter
The roles of Deirdre and Tracey in the novel, Exam focus: Writing about Deirdre and TraceyThemes, Contexts and Settings
Themes
Friendship, Aiming high: Comment on Meena’s friendship with Robert, Key quotation: Meena, Anita and Sam, Revision focus: How good a friend is Meena?, Family, Exam focus: Writing about effects, Change and growing up, Aiming high: Comment on change in Tollington, Culture, Top tip: Writing about comic differences, Key quotation: Clothes in culture, Racism and prejudice, Key quotation: Meena’s outrage, Truth and fiction, Aiming high: An unreliable narrator?Form, Structure and Language
Structure
Overview, First day of the holidays (pp. 9–79), The friendship grows (pp. 79–130), Sunil is born – Mama cannot cope (pp. 131–61), Setbacks and obstacles (pp. 162–279), Climax and resolution (pp. 280–328), Top tip: Writing about development, Exam focus: Writing about effectsProgress Booster
Planning your answer
Plan quickly and efficiently, Stage 1: Generate ideas quickly, Stage 2: Jot down useful quotations (or key events), Stage 3: Plan for paragraphs