An Act of Love by Alan Gibbons

An Act of Love Reviews

• 
  Jo

  4.5 stars.
  
  “Imran dabbed at is nose. ‘Hey, look at that. We still bleed the same colour.’ He cleared his throat. ‘This proves we are blood brothers’. He offered his hand and pulled me to my feet.”
  
  Initial Final Page Thoughts.
  Perfect ending for a beautiful book.
  
  High Points.
  Honest portrayal of the situation. Unflinching. Neutral. Impossible questions. Impossible truths. Growing up. The past. The present. The future. Change. Hope. Beliefs. Family. Friendship. Love.
  
  Low Points.
  I would have liked more chapters told from the perspective of Imran. His journey was so fascinating and raw. It seemed much more honest than Chris’ in some way.
  
  Heroes.
  What struck me the most about Chris and Imran, best friends since they were born until history/prejudice/ignorance/circumstances/call-it-what-you-want dragged them apart, was how young they were. The story flits around on their timeline but focussing mostly on when they were eight, seventeen and then, in present day, when they are twenty. That is just two years younger than me. I can’t even begin to fathom that.
  Our two heroes, just two ordinary boys, have been broken, torn apart and forced to grow up in a world that is decided and moulded by ignorant and mindless people who refuse to see beyond their own narrow views. They are in the hands of extremists and their lives are no longer theirs to control. It was difficult to read about these two boys stumbling blindly down the paths that history and ignorance has paved for them but there was a definite sense of inevitability as well.
  Both Chris and Imran are terribly flawed characters. They both make unfortunate decisions and they make mistakes that they will undoubtedly regret for the rest of their lives.
  But it is the way that they both atone for their mistakes and never give up hope, after everything, that make Chris and Imran such endearing characters and ones that will stick with me for a long time.
  I feel I also need to mention Rafiq, Imran’s troubled older brother. He was definitely my favourite character in this novel. His story, like Imran’s, was not easy to read but it was honest and full of anger, redemption and, above all, hope for the future.
  
  
  Theme Tune.
  
  Mass Destruction- Faithless.
  There was no other song I could pick as theme tune for this book. In my opinion, this song (and it’s brutal and profound video which has a definite resonance with this novel when you look at the age of the subjects) is one of the most effective anti-ignorance songs that has ever been written.
  I've never been religious but I believe in Maxi Jazz.
  
  Angst Level.
  Gibbons expertly writes with an unwavering view of what is happening right now and, considering recent events in Norway, this book is all too terrifyingly real. A more contemporary book you will not find.
  What I respected most about this book was that Gibbons took a neutral stance. It is difficult to write a book on a subject that is happening right now and that has affected everyone in some way, whether it is simply reading an article in your local newspaper or seeing new poppy-adorned crosses and laminated pictures placed at the foot of your hometown memorial or seeing yet another boy being brought home through the streets of Wootton Bassett.
  It is obvious that this book does not have an agenda, to mouth-off and spout an opinion is easy, but I believe that depicting difficult issues from all perspectives and every moral standpoint that is much more commendable.
  But if you can take anything from this book it is that there are no easy answers and everything falls into that shade of murky grey that often plagues history.
  In his Author’s Note, Gibbons states that he is often asked why he chooses to write about such dark and bleak subjects (he wrote
  another novel about two young teenagers in love after the September 11th attacks) and he said:
  

  “Well, you only enter a dark room if you think you can light the way out.”

  
  Gibbons may not have answered the questions that he raises, but he asks them and that is the first step to lighting the room.
  This book is not easy to read. It may not be easy to read but it’s a necessary one and one that should be read by all ages, not just teenagers.
  
  You can read this review and lots of other exciting things on my blog
  here.
• 
  CJ

  Fantastic book. Necessary. Can't believe it took me years to pick it back up again.
• 
  Diane Ferbrache

  Chris and Imran have been friends since they were 7 years old. They were inseparable until September 11 changed everything. In the midst of growing racial tension and increasing terrorist activity in London, Chris joins the Army and Imran gets involved with a radical Iman. Can they find their way back to the friendship?
  First published in England in 2011, this is a side of the story that few Americans see – the effect of American politics and military action on the citizens of other countries. The story is told in the voices of both Chris and Imran over the course of 10 years, so the reader can more fully understand how and why the boys change. Rarely do we get to see the Muslim side of the story. The terrorists are not portrayed in a sympathetic manner, but it’s clear how some can be radicalized. It may be fiction, but it certainly humanizes current events in a way that news agencies can’t. The writing is a bit uneven; not the highest quality of prose, but very readable and certainly a compelling story.
  
• 
  Leanne

  I was hooked from the first page... This novel is very intense and gripping. It was also an eye opener as we are dealing with political issues as relevant today as there are in this novel... Highly recommended
• 
  Kamalia Ramlan

  4.5 bintang. Aku suka cerita dengan gaya bahasa yang mudah tapi temanya serius macam buku ni. rasa puas hati.
• 
  George Doumat

  This book has a clear message between its lines and I think it was delivered clearly. And the themes discussed are noteworthy
• 
  Serendipity Reviews

  This book looks at the lives of two children from two different religions, Chris and Imran, who begin their childhood as sworn blood brothers. The story follows them through the next ten years where worldwide events begin to affect their friendship,driving a wedge between them and sending them on very different pathways. Chris joins the army, whilst Imran becomes involved with radicalists that want to stop the war their own way.
  
  I was surprised how much I loved the book. I did worry when I saw the cover that it might not be for me, but how wrong I was. It actually made me want to read more about the war in Afghanistan and clarified my ignorance on a war that has raged for so long. I really enjoyed the way real life events are intertwined with the story, allowing you to see how events spiralled out of control within multiracial communities. It is a gritty read, that really made me think and open my eyes to a situation that really hasn't directly affected my life.
  
  The story is told from two points of view, both Chris and Imran guide us through the events of the last ten years. Each giving their voice to their opinions and beliefs and why they made the decisions they did; I felt that this helped to remind me of the events of the last ten years. Chris's voice really stood out to me, especially the insightful passages set on patrol in the Helmund Province, a place I felt constantly alerted to by the media. Imran makes rash decisions but thankfully through the love of his family, he is able to turn them around. Some of the scenes were full of sadness and my compassionate side took over.
  
  From the first couple of pages, I felt like I was on a time limit, an event was about to occur that would change people's lives if it happened and I needed to get to the end of the book to press the timer and save the lives of the people involved. The book moves at an extremely fast pace and you do find yourself holding your breath a little as the story reverts back to the present day.
  
  It is not often that I read a book and come away feeling guilty. Feeling guilty about my own ignorance. My ignorance over a war that rarely interfered with my own life. This book brings historical moments from the last ten years back into focus, with a clear indication at how they affected real lives. I can remember exactly where I was for 9/11 and 7/7 but they never really affected my life directly. This book shows us the real effects of these events; the reaction to the Muslims who have lived all their lives in England is terrible, the way they became targets for their beliefs after events occurred thousands of miles away.
  
  This book should be on every reading list in every secondary school. This book gives teenagers a real account of how the war in Afghanistan actually affected the people around the world. It is a powerful read that leaves you with questions and reflections about the past ten years. I would even petition for it to be included as part of school reading lists. The teenagers of today should be reading this to put their own lives into perspective and to realise how lucky they are to be living in the UK.
  
  I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this book and would happily encourage adults and teenagers alike to read it. An excellent, well written, hard hitting book to make you sit up and take notice.
• 
  Jules (Never enough time to read)

  
  
  http://thegreatthegoodandthebad.blogs...
  
  ‘An act of love’ surprised me in quite a few different ways, mostly because I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I have to admit that this isn’t the type of book that I usually read, I tend to avoid most fiction to do with war, politics, racism and real contemporary violence, which were among some of the difficult subjects that this book deals with. But having said that this book is far from a difficult book to read, in fact when I started it I just couldn’t put it down. Yes it deals with tough subjects, but it does so in an honest and thoroughly gripping way.
  
  It is clear from reading this book that a lot of time and effort has gone into the research and not just about the timeline of terror attacks, such as the terrible events of September 11th as well as the London bus bombing, but also about the cultures of the characters and the setting of the story.
  
  The writing was impeccable and the story hurled along with never a dull moment, but it was the two main characters of Chris and Imran that really made this a memorable book for me. The story is told from both of their perspectives, with the use of flashbacks chronicling their childhood friendship and the different paths that their lives took them along even thou in some small way their futures were always connected. Even despite the fact that one has joined the Army and served in Afghanistan while the other is a potential jihad recruit. The book spans about 11 years of their lives and the lives of their families, for me this was a great insight into the Muslim community, which is something that I know very little about.
  
  Sometimes titles for books can have little actual relevance to the book, other than being an eye catching and fun way of getting people’s attention. However, this title really works well for the story because at the heart of this novel was love, the love between brothers, between parents and their children, between friends, between partners. Love although not a dominant theme within the novel was certainly the driving force of a lot of the actions of the characters. Also the ending, which I won’t spoil for you really wraps the story up nicely and completely encapsulates the title.
  
  If I did have anything negative to say about this book it would be that I just don’t like the cover of the book. On first glance this really doesn’t make me want to pick it up and it could be to too easily pigeon holed as a war story, which although in some respects it is, it really is so much more than just that.
  
  I would highly recommend this book to people, it is a brilliant story and one that has been told with excitement, compassion and honesty. Even if you don’t initially think that this book might be for you I would still recommend it, because like me you might just be surprised at how much you enjoy the story of Chris and Imran and the balanced portrayal of some very emotive and immensely important current day issues.
  
  GREAT – 10/10, this has been one of the best books that I have read all year.
  
• 
  Michelle (Fluttering Butterflies)

  An Act of Love by Alan Gibbons is an amazing book. I was blown away by the emotion that has been poured into the events that have changed and transformed our two main characters.
  
  It was really an eye-opening experience for me as, embarassingly, I have not always been that aware of the goings-on in respect to the war on terror in Afghanistan or of the events that went on here in the UK, such as the race riots. I think what is very important and so wonderful about An Act of Love is that it makes every attempt to show both sides of the picture that perhaps has not always been obvious and apparent in the media coverage. I think it is always very easy to hear the news about cerain events such as the war and not consider how these things might affect other people, cultures and nationalities. And in my case, it's been quite easy to not engage myself fully in these topics because of the lack of direct involvement in my own life.
  
  In An Act of Love, our story focuses on the lives of two young boys who begin with this wonderful, strong bond of friendship. Chris and Imran share a neighbourhood and their daily lives together, but as they grow up and racial tension and world events and the different views of their families and society's, they begin to grow apart and eventually are miles apart. Chris becomes a soldier in the British army and Imran becomes involved with a group of radical Muslims.
  
  And this transformation between the two boys is quite a heartbreaking thing to witness. For Imran, he feels as though he is fighting against unfair treatment and a different set of standards. The arrest of his older brother during a race riot has a huge impact on his life. And understandably. It felt hugely unjust reading of a 4 year sentence for a protest against racial bigotry. The treatment that Imran and his family and of his community was terrible to read. The backlash against Islam surrounding 9/11 and 7/7 and the war on terror must have something very difficult to live through. Through reading of Imran's struggles I could relate to his feelings of despair and disillusionment which leads him down a much darker path - a path not condoned by his family or iman.
  
  And the same goes for Chris's story and path. I could really relate to his unconcious decision to slip away from his friendship with Imran as his environment, friends and hobbies changed as they both grew older. Having no real ambition of his own, he follows an easy path into the army. And his time at the Helmand Province in Afghanistan was quite poignant to read about. I loved that Chris managed to hold onto his own beliefs and maintained his integrity as those around him showed their bigotry.
  
  An Act of Love is such a wonderful story of friendship. It shows both sides of the war on terror and the consequences, the casualties and the effects that it is has had to our very multicultural society. Thought-provoking, emotional and eye-opening, An Act of Love is a book not to miss!
• 
  Beth Kemp

  This novel deals with important contemporary issues of identity, terrorism and the radicalisation of teens by means of good honest storytelling. Yes, I appreciated the insight I gained into how kids can be driven into some difficult-to-understand paths, but this is achieved by stealth: what gripped me and pulled me along was the story of a friendship. I simply had to know what would happen between the two boys.
  
  The narration adds a further layer of interest and drama. The novel begins close to the end of the story with an impending disaster, and then unravels through sections covering different times. This is what makes the book a thriller for me: from the very start, we know where it's all heading and the question is how could it get there (and, of course, how is it all going to end?). As well as switching times, the point of view shifts, with first-person narration from Chris and third-person narration from Imran's perspective, as well as occasional sections from other points of view.
  
  If you think this sounds complicated, it is, but it's handled masterfully. Sections are all clearly signalled with headings telling us whose story it is and the date. In the hands of a lesser writer, this complex narrative style could have made the story difficult to follow, but Gibbons' firm grip on all the threads means the telling affords us a closer relationship with both boys, and our sympathies are constantly pulled. Providing both sides with a voice demonstrates the simplicity of the rhetoric on both sides, and allows us to understand in a way that a simpler or more direct style couldn't achieve. Gibbons doesn't preach, lecture or tell us what to think, which is of course always important, but even more so in the YA market.
  
  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and believe it has an important contemporary message. Its strength lies in its skilful storytelling, which will allow it to touch its audience and engage them with the issues at a personal level.
  
  Thank you to Orion Books for sending this book for review.
• 
  Rhys

  This review was originally posted on
  ThirstforFiction.com
  
  They start out as childhood friends- at aged 7 they are inseperable. They do everything together- swimming, football, exploring The Wilderness; the empty area of land behind the estate. But slowly, everything starts to fall apart. Chris moves away and makes new friends, Imran doesn’t. Chris gets a job, Imran doesn’t. Chris becomes a soldier, goes out to Afghanistan, and Imran slowly hates him for it. Imran is being radicalised by fellow Muslims, jihadists intent on ruining Britain. Their lives were entwined, then they were apart. They will come together again.
  
  An Act of Love starts amiably at first, meandering it’s way through the young lives of Chris and Imran. But the first chapter starts 12 years later: Chris, about to receive a medal, and Imran, on his way to the Barracks in an attempt to prevent a jihadist plot. Alan Gibbons weaves his way through their lives, starting at the end. Shared childhood memories spill out of the pages, interspersed by brief flash forwards to 2011. Slowly, as the book progresses, the gap becomes smaller and smaller, and before long it meets where it started. Alan Gibbons has found an incredibly effective way of telling a long story of friendship, love and hate, almost like a countdown through which the memories tell the story. The lives of Imran and Chris blossom and fade, before re-flowering again and again and again.
  read more...
• 
  Pamela Todd

  From the very first page, An Act of Love is intense and gripping.
  
  Chris and Imran grew up next door to each other. The best memories of their childhood are the ones with them both. They saw each other through difficult times, through bullies and prejudice and life and death situations. There is a difference between the boys that they don't see but is noticed by everyone. Chris is white, Imran is not. Chris grows up to be a soldier for the British army, Imran grows up to be groomed by a Muslim terrorist group.
  
  The novel is told in different time lines. The opening chapter is present day, flitting between Chris and Imran's POV. The book is mainly set in the past, it goes back to the beginning and tells the story of how they both came to end up where they are and how once blood brothers turn into strangers.
  
  I thought the book is incredibly moving and filled with wrought action. It should be read by everyone to get a clearer idea of both sides of the story, how not every white man is a racist and not every Muslim is a terrorist. It was interesting to get the view points of both boys and how they ticked. It was difficult to read in some parts, but only because it was so brutal in the story it was telling.
  
  In a way, An Act of Love is a very brave book. The author holds back from nothing and isn't ashamed of the story he is trying to tell. This is sure to be a hit with anyone who enjoys action, YA or who wants to learn more about those fighting the worst part of the war - the one that goes on outside out front door.
• 
  Daisy May Johnson

  Full disclosure part one - I received an advance copy of this from the publisher.
  
  Full disclosure part two - It's really rather good.
  
  An Act of Love tells the story of two childhood friends forced down separate ideological paths - one into the army and the other into extremism.
  
  It's a solid book, highly readable with a ton of detail that doesn't detract from the core content. It's also one of the few books that deals with the issue of terrorism - an issue which is rarely addressed in children's literature.
  
  What Gibbons manages to do here is portray the rounded whole and the genuine heartbreak that affects everybody involved in terrorism. The impact of a choice is shown upon the character and their surroundings - their families, friends and loved ones. And these choices, when they're made, when they bend and break the character in question, they're not easy choices. They're heart-wrenching to read and yet bitterly inevitable.
  
  It's not an easy read but children's literature doesn't have to be. What it has to do is have an impact and an affect upon the reader. An Act of Love will create more questions than it solves - a perhaps inevitable result of the topic - but these are questions that need to be asked. And somebody needs to ask them.
• 
  Teresa

  Alan Gibbons is better known for writing about demons and horror in his Hell's Underground series for young adults. Here he turns his attention to the contemporary horrors of war, terrorism and racism. Chris and Imran have been best friends since they were little but, as they grow up, terrorism and racism cause a fracture in their relationship, a split which could prove fatal. Chris finds himself stumbling into a career in the army, hurled into the midst of war in Afghanistan at the tender age of 17 whilst Imran finds himself continually disillusioned by the way he and his fellow Muslims are treated like second-class citizens and never properly treated on a par with their white neighbours.
  
  The author provides excellent insight into the murky modern world of terrorism, examining the emotional cost of war, the misunderstandings between different cultures which lead to acts of violence running counter to the act of love which the Koran advocates. My 11 year old son and I both enjoyed An Act of Love immensely. A coming of age story which perfectly reflects the ups and downs of our modern multi-cultural society - highly recommended for ages 10+.
• 
  Jenni

  Wow. What a book! It tackles a pretty big and tricky topic, and it does it so well. I paused a few times to marvel at how well balanced it was, you get to see both Chris and Imran’s sides of the story. The book’s written in such a way that you feel like you have an understanding of why they, Imran in particular, make the decisions that they do but whilst it tries to explain things it never tries to justify them.
  
  Structurally this book’s quite complex, there’s the storyline of what’s happening the day the book is set and then there’s the storyline of what happened to the two boys from the time they were boys right up until the day the book is set. These two storylines are skilfully woven together, and told from both perspectives so the reader really gets a sense of the characters and their relationships.
  
  There’s a real sense of peril throughout the book. The opening chapter sets up an end point for both storylines and I found as I got further and further through it my heart started racing a little faster, wondering how it was all going to resolve.
  
  All in all, an impressive read, and one that’s made me determined to read more by Alan Gibbons.
  
• 
  Tasha

  At seven-years-old Chris and Imran are best friends. The story follows them as they grow up and apart from each other. As children they had so much in common but they end up with dramatically different lives.
  
  The book deals with the difficult issue of terrorism which is dealt with in an accessible way by viewing historical moments such as the Bradford Riots, 9/11 and the 7/7 bombings through the eyes of two young boys who at first don't understand the importance of what is happening around them but soon find out just how these much impact these events have.
  
  Throughout the story we get to know the two boys through their different feelings and emotions regarding their friendship as well as racism and terrorism. At times the book is not easy to read - in terms of subject matter, the writing is outstanding - and it makes you question your opinions of the whole issue.
  
  An Act of Love is a great way for young people to learn more about the war on terrorism, particularly on how it affects individuals, and it would no doubt prompt discussion about this as well.
• 
  Read InAGarden

  An Act of Love is a novel that spans 10 years in the lives of Chris (a white British boy) and Imran (a Muslim British boy). At first they are best friends but as they grow older they begin to see the events of the world through different eyes. Chris eventually decides to become a soldier and fight in the war to end Muslim extremism and Imran is heavily influenced by Muslim radicals on British soil. Interspersed throughout the years are modern day scenes which let the reader know that a current day bombing is about to take place unless Imran can warn Chris in time to stop it. What the reader wonders is, how does Imran know about the bombing and what drives him to stop it - as well as will the two former friends find their way back to each other through all the rhetoric. Quite an outstanding novel. One that is important for teens and adults to read and realize that there are very few absolutes in our modern-day conflicts.
• 
  Verity

  I was optimistic about this book when I picked it up, as I felt that it could provide a much needed message to children regarding prejudice and racism.
  Sadly, I felt that this book only managed to convey tired cliches surrounding 9/11 and the British reaction to Muslims.
  I would not recommend this book for children, as I feel it still managed to portray the Muslim faith in a very negative light, and that it contained far too much political information that children don't need to know and wouldn't be interested in. It seemed to me that the author kept forgetting that he was writing for children and spent too much time lingering on subjects that wouldn't appeal to his supposed demographic, and not enough time building the relationshiop between the two boys.
  Overall, it was disappointing.
  
• 
  Linda Guest

  Definitely only suitable for older teens as the subject matter concerning terrorism and the differences shown between Christian and Muslim British young people is at times a little worrying. The story is set during the race riots in England that were fuelled by the Americans going into Afghanistan. The two friends; Chris and Imran start to hold conflicting views of the world coloured by the beliefs of thier family and social groups.
  
  I felt that the book dealt with a sensitive subject well but I wonder if is accomplishes anything by so graphically pointing out the differences in our society to young people?
• 
  Edwin Smith

  An Act of Love by Alan Gibbons was an enjoyable and hard to put down book. It was an emotional story about two neighbourhood friends, Chris and Imran, from two different religious backgrounds. This book describes the different paths of two boys who grew up together, becoming almost enemies. An Act of Love describes the war in Afghanistan and its strong effects on both Chris and Imran. This was a stirring and exciting book with something always going on.Overall, this book was incredibly insightful to the horrors of war and how the Muslim community reacted during the war. .
• 
  Sue Hampton

  This is a brave book and I applaud the author's courage. I also admire his skill as a storyteller with a plot that feels organic, growing inevitably from the characters and the times, rather than constructed. Its subject is terrorism, explored through friendship - or vice versa. Powerful, chilling and wise - and, in these reactive times where 'our' soldiers are apparently angels and Mosques are under attack, necessary.
• 
  Kate Hodson

  I began this thinking here would be another issue based teen novel that tried to educate me through a rather dubious story. I have to say that this book is much better than that. I felt that though it did deal with some heavyweight topics, it made characters real on both sides. An interesting and enjoyable book which makes you reconsider what you thought you knew and view a situation from an alternative perspective.
• 
  Leah

  I absolutely loved the way that this book was able to show you the way both sides of the war think and their justifications for the war.
  It was heartbreaking reading about Chris' time in the army, and the description of the horrors that he saw was incredible, but i found Rafiq and Imran's stories equally so, because they stood up for what they beleived in, and were punished for it.
  
• 
  Jo Harrison

  I have a proof copy to review for Waterstone's... didn't realise it was a children's book!
• 
  Zainab Sheriff

  AMAZING! :D
  
  Please read it for yourself