Review: The Charity Chip by Brock Booher

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The Charity Chip by Brock Booher
288 pages, Published June 9th 2015 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: Life on the streets of Lima is already difficult for Julio, but now that digital money has replaced hard currency, survival is virtually impossible. Isak comes to his rescue and offers him a chance at a better life through a hi-tech humanitarian program. The only catch is a microchip implanted between the thumb and forefinger of the hand. At first life improves dramatically, but when another participant dies mysteriously, Julio suspects that the chip does more than just dispense charity. Now he must uncover the truth behind the charity chip before someone else suffers the same fate. 

 

My Review:  Julio is an orphan with a twin brother and a will to survive. Society doesn't use money anymore, but uses microchips to pay for things. As a street performer, that makes it tough to get enough food to eat. When he gets a chance to be a part of a program that will give him a chance in life, he goes for it, and the story really takes off from here.

This story is very intense with a dash of romance. I thought it was interesting to see how the society functioned (and didn't function) with these chips. In one scene, a store allowed for people to go through a security point and any and all goods would automatically be scanned and deducted from your chip and I thought that was a good way to eliminate shoplifting.

Julio is on a mission to find out the true meaning of the chip and is in a race against time to do so. I really enjoyed getting to know his character and to see how he would act in different situations. He was quick on his feet, as well as brave and resourceful. I also enjoyed the other side characters and their connections to the mystery.

There were times when I wished for a slightly slower pace so that I could process what was going on better. The story definitely clips along.

Content: very mild romance; no language or religious elements; some violence. Clean.

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About the Author:

Brock Booher grew up on a farm in rural Kentucky, the fourth of ten children, where he learned to work hard, use his imagination, and believe in himself. He left the farm to pursue the friendly skies as a pilot, and currently flies for a major US carrier. A dedicated husband and father of six children, he began writing out of sheer arrogance, but the writing craft quickly humbled him. During that process, he discovered that he enjoyed writing because it is an endeavor that can never quite be mastered. He still gladly struggles everyday to improve his writing and storytelling skills.

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