English ISU Task 4: Blog Entry #5

Reader: Zaid

Novel Title: Acceleration

Author: Graham McNamee

In the novel Acceleration, environmental racism becomes evident as a social issue for the characters. Environmental racism is explained as a particular place being treated differently in their land and housing developments due to racial and class makeup. This is very evident in Duncan’s home town of inner city Toronto. The area where he lives is made up of lower income residents and minority groups who are subjected to pollution, factories and dumping. This produces more health and environmental risks for the neighbourhood. Duncan and his friend Wayne are able to find a discarded shopping cart that has been dumped on their way to steal a luxury toilet. Wayne states, “Not luxury places but still castles compared to our apartment back in the Jungle.” He is painfully aware that their dwelling is dirty and slum like compared to other areas that are being developed.

English ISU Task 4: Blog Entry #6

Reader: Zaid

Novel Title: Acceleration

Author: Graham McNamee

The lack of parental involvement and supervision is a major social issue that is apparent in the novel Acceleration. Throughout the story, parental involvement affects Duncan, as he is able to venture through Toronto at any time without his parents being aware of such. To continue, the lack of parental involvement helps to develop the main character Duncan, as it focuses on his time spent unsupervised outside. Additionally, the social issue is directly related to the plot, as it helps develop it. Since Duncan spends the majority of his time unsupervised, he manages to get involved with a criminals’ personal life and soon finds himself trapped in his basement.

English ISU Task 4: Blog Entry #4

Reader: Zaid

Novel Title: Acceleration

Author: Graham McNamee

Age discrimination is another social that plays a role in the story Acceleration. In the course of the story Duncan is treated differently by the police based on his age. When he attempts to bring the journal and his evidence to the police for them to investigate , they immediately assume he created the journal and is being a nuisance. One cop says, “You don’t seem like a bad kid. But maybe you should find a better way to spend your summer vacation”. Another cop refused to take the diary before Duncan could present evidence. Perhaps if Duncan was older he might have been taken more seriously and given a fair opportunity to explain his reasoning and show how the Journal related to the crime sprees in Toronto.

English ISU Task 4: Blog Entry #3

Reader: Zaid

Novel Title: Acceleration

Author: Graham McNamee

In the novel Acceleration, a dysfunctional family life is a social issue that is evident throughout the story. The antagonist, Scott Weber is brought up by a grandmother without any other guidance or support system. The grandmother is both physically and mentally abusive to Weber throughout his childhood. The grandmother shows him no love and treats him like a caged animal by often locking him in the basement. Weber grows to become an extremely hostile criminal. This social issue plays a major role on the plot as Weber now plans to murder a woman. In reaction, the protagonist, Duncan puts forth all of his effort to stop Weber from taking one’s life. Additionally, the author uses the social issue of a dysfunctional family to develop character Scott Weber. McNamee does this by revealing information about the character through Scott’s dreadful childhood experiences.

This leads the reader to question if Weber had been raised with proper guidance and love would he have grown to become such a person?