Remember that the people in the text are conscious constructs, and so are the places being described and the objects mentioned. Learn to notice deliberate things Syal has done to communicate her ideas.
As you read the novel, try to consider: “why this, now?” For instance, Syal sets her novel in a declining, impoverished working-class town. She may have chosen to do this to explore how individuals react to each other in response to difficult circumstances, such as unemployment or as a result of emotional trauma. Try to explore the reasons behind Syal’s choice of setting as you analyse the text.