Anita and Me: Plot Summary

Anita and Me is set in the 1960s in the small Midlands village of Tollington and follows Meena Kumar, a young British-Indian girl growing up in a tight-knit Indian family. Meena struggles with her cultural identity, feeling torn between her Indian heritage and the English world she lives in.

Meena befriends Anita Rutter, a rebellious and confident local girl. Fascinated by Anita's boldness, Meena is drawn into her world, despite Anita's bad influence and the tension it causes at home. As their friendship deepens, Meena begins to see the flaws in Anita's behaviour and the underlying racism in the village.

Throughout the novel, Meena's understanding of herself and her community grows, particularly after a traumatic accident and the discovery of Anita's family's prejudices. By the end, Meena realises that she doesn't need to fit into one identity; she can embrace both her Indian roots and her British upbringing, finding strength in her individuality.