At the beginning of this book, it seems as if it might just be a stereotypical novel full of action and crime, made for boys. Which aren't necessarily bad books, however lack a bit of originality.
However, the reader soon discovers that this is a well thought out book, with a gripping storyline and two best-friends on opposite sides of the metaphorical coin. As both boys grow up, they grow apart, with Chris following in his parents footsteps and rooting for the Americans within the war; whereas Imran follows a bit more of an extreme path, as whilst trying to rebel against his parents, he accidentally gets involved in something a lot more serious and ends up mixing with the leader of a terrorist organisation.
The book sublimely reminds us of how, as humans, need to retain our humanity and look past what the government want us to see, and delve deeper into the other side of the story; and see that it is not only America and England that suffer from war, but that it is other countries that are caught in the cross-fire.
The book ends with the two friends, lost to each other for many years, saving each other, not only from death but also themselves.
Gibbons breaks the heart of the reader, and slowly puts it back together piece-by-piece until it is whole again, and as I put down the book, content with the finish, I realised that perhaps the title gave away quite a lot of the book, as throughout the book the running theme was that there were not only acts of friendship but also, one final Act Of Love.
Rating: 4.5/5
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