SLIS 5420 Module 9 Oct.26-Nov.1

Acceleration

by

Graham McNamee

Summary

Duncan is working a summer job in the "lost and found" department for the Toronto Transit Commission. He is hoping it will at least help him forget about the girl who died at the beach; the girl he tried to save. What he thinks is going to be the most boring summer of his life, quickly becomes anything but dull when Duncan finds a beat up leather journal that holds the key to the mind of a killer.

My Thoughts

I think this is a book that teens would really like. It has enough edge that it would capture their attention like so many movies they see. The line "Me and you going after this guy...is like the Hardy Boys meet Hannibal Lecter" is right on the back of the book and I think it would get a kid's attention and make them choose the book. I think the story line of the boys tracking down the potential serial killer is well done and filled with the right amount of tension, but the parallel story line of Duncan's intense guilt over the accidental drowning of a girl he tried to save, is a little less believable and doesn't seem to have a concrete relation to the story. Overall, however, the book is well written and I enjoyed it. I think teens would like the fact that Duncan and his friends figured out everything on their own and never even told the police or their parents they had caught a potential killer.

Reviews

"McNamee smoothly integrates snapshots from Duncan's escapades with a new buddy and his wild best friend, who lives teetering on the edge of the law, with information plucked from the diary. He never overexploits the sensational potential of the subject and builds suspense layer upon layer, while injecting some surprising comedy relief that springs from the boys' friendship."-Booklist

Awards / Honors

Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Suggested Activities

I would ask student to rewrite the end of the story. I would have them start at the point at which Duncan finds himself in the killer's basement, and have them create a new story line and resolution.