1. Acceleration by Graham Mcnamee
Presentation by: Matthew, Jimmy, Nick, Mikhail, and Nisrine

2. Setting TIME: Around 2003 (When the book was published), Summer
PLACE: Real, Toronto
CULTURAL SETTING: Commonwealth, English
ATMOSPHERE, MOOD: Busy, Populated, and Fun
SPECIFIC DETAILS: Apartment in "The Jungle"

3. Underground lost and found like the one Duncan works at
Setting
Underground lost and found like the one Duncan works at
Map of Toronto

4. The Complication
One day at the lost and found where Duncan works, Duncan finds somebody's journal that contains their darkest secrets. Duncan thinks he has to do something about it by himself before the man Duncan calls "Roach" can do anymore.

5. Conflict (Man vs Man)
Duncan breaks into Roach's house to see if he has anything or anybody hiding in there. Roach catches Duncan and starts chasing him around the streets with a knife. It eventually leads to them fighting at a subway station.

6. Conflict (Man vs Himself)
Before the book starts Duncan was at the beach and he saw a girl start to drown. He started to swim towards the girl to try and save her but he was too late. Ever since then it has haunted him and he thinks it's his fault. He thinks that he can redeem himself by stopping Roach and that it will make him feel better. That's the main reason why he keeps the journal instead of giving it to the police.

7. Duncan
Athletic
Courageous
Quick Thinker
Rational

8. Vinny
Quick Thinker
Intelligent
Cautious
Helpful

9. Wayne
Stubborn
Criminal
Bald
Muscular

10. The Roach
Psychotic
Animal Abuser
Acne Scarred
Deranged

11. Other Characters
Kim, Duncan's ex girlfriend. She helped show how protective Duncan is.
Jacob, Duncan's employer. He was the reason Duncan found the book.
Roach's Grandmother. She treated Roach badly which made him into a deranged animal abuser and murderer.

12. Pertinent Passages
"I had the dream again. It's been a couple of months since the last one. I was hoping I could forget about it, hoping it would forget about me. Leave me alone. The dreams always the same."
One of the themes in the book is redemption, the only reason that Duncan does the stuff he does, is because he feels like the girl that drowned was his fault, and needed to redeem himself.

13. Pertinent Passage
“Part of me hates myself for doing this; it’s like I’m waving a needle in front of an addict. Wayne’s always been the devil on my shoulder – now I’m the devil on his.”
This passage shows that the main character or Duncan, will do anything to catch Roach.

14. Pertinent Passage
"On March 14th, to cats were found hanging by their necks from lengths of chain, nailed to telephone polls in a back alley of Wilson Heights. The animal had been eviscerated. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime stoppers."
This passage shows the VERY beginning of the story, this shows what Roach started out doing.

15. Passage
"Ever since we were little he's taken me under his evil wing, teaching me the ways of the Dark Side of the Force - Vader to my Luke."
Connection: This passage reminds me of Star Wars and the first time I saw it.

16. Passage
"The light's too bright in here, making my stitches appear even more gruesome."
Connection: This passage reminds me of the time I got stitches and how they looked.

17. Background Information
The location where the book was set in was in Toronto, which is also where the author was originated. Most of the story was focused in Downtown Toronto.
The social condition of the location is great as it is a highly populated city and has a strong economy.
It is also a very diverse location as there are many people from different cultural backgrounds.

18. Background Information
Aside of writing books, he has also been working at the Vancouver Public Library
The author Graham Mcnamee has written 6 books over his career with a seventh one ready for publication this year. His first book called "Hate You" was published in 1999
For the book "Acceleration" he has received two awards: "The Edgar Award For Best Young Adult Book" and "The Arthur Ellis Award For Best Juvenile Crime Book."
He also won many other awards for his other publications some which are from the ALA (American Library Association)

19. Five Key Words The first key word is redemption.
Redemption is the theme of the story as the protagonist "Duncan" wants to redeem himself for not being able to save a girl that was drowning in the ocean. So since he has potentially received a chance to save someone's life he takes that opportunity and is determined to make sure no one gets hurt by "Roach".

20. Five Key Words The second key word is Persistent.
That is the trait that Duncan carries as he never gives up through the tough roadblocks that he has faced. He always somehow manages to find a way around it like how at the start it was almost impossible for him to pinpoint Roach's location, but thanks to his efforts even got closer and closer and eventually found it.

21. Five Key Words The third key word is Suspenseful.
Suspenseful is the mood that you get when you read the book as there are many moments that leave suspense. The book is great at building the suspense as it gets you curious of what would happen next in the book. Making you want to read more.

22. Five Key Words The fourth key word is Intense.
Intense is the atmosphere of the book as there is always something important happening which is related to the major conflict. Whether it is clues leading to Roach or roadblocks happening over the course of the story.

23. Five Key Words The fifth key is Mysterious.
Mysterious is a word that perfectly describes Roach's personality. As he has never been caught by the cops when he does his crimes. And also he is almost impossible to track down. If the diary wasn't found Roach probably would've never been caught.

24. Passage 1
"On March 14, two cats where found hanging by their necks from lengths of chain, nailed to telephone polls in a back alley of Wilson Heights. the animal had been eviscerated. anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers."
In this passage it shows how sick and twisted roach is and in this passage it sets the mood of a dark and gloomy atmosphere.

25. Passage 2
" I had that dream again. It's been a couple of month since the last one. I was hoping I could forget about it, hoping it would forget about me. leave me alone. the dreams always the same."
I had picked this passage because it shows what kind of person Duncan is. this nightmare was about a girl drowning and Duncan not being able to save her, and in the end shows that Duncan is ashamed of this fact.

26. Conclusion My groups impression on this book
What I think made it a good book was the suspense and how much further it made you want to read, in fact this lead to our whole group reading ahead, sometimes more than once.
If I was given another book by the same author then I would read it, mostly due to the fact that this book show that the writer knows how to draw in his readers.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery and suspense as there would be a lot of times that this book would have you on the edge of your seat while trying to find roaches identity.

27. Credits Setting, Complication, and Conflict Nicholas
Illustrator and Character Studies
Nisrine
Passages and Connection
Matthew
Background Information and Key Words
Jimmy
Writer’s Style and Conclusion
Mikhail