Charity Chip, The

In the slums of Lima, fourteen-year-old street performer Julio survives by juggling fire and stealing food. When a foreign benefactor offers him an implanted 'charity chip' that provides daily money and hot meals, it seems like salvation. But as friends begin dying mysteriously, Julio and a fellow orphan uncover the chilling truth behind the program. Torn between self-preservation and a promise to his dying mother to protect his twin, Julio must decide how much he'll sacrifice. A gripping near-future thriller about poverty, freedom, and the value of a human life.

• A near-future thriller that asks: how much freedom would you trade for the promise of never going hungry again?
• A Hunger Games-style dystopian premise grounded in the very real crisis of child poverty and organ trafficking.
• A heart-wrenching story of twin brothers, sacrifice, and a promise made to a dying mother.
• Vivid, immersive setting in the slums of Lima that transports readers to a world most have never seen.

“It is better to suffer hunger than the shame of dishonesty.”

Perfect for a teen or adult reader who enjoys socially-conscious dystopian thrillers with a sympathetic underdog hero, moral dilemmas, and international settings.