The Chat That Broke

What do you do when your two best friends become your worst enemies online? Gerome is trapped in the digital crossfire. His lifelong friends, Gina and Tyson, are on opposite sides of a bitter town debate, and their private group chat has become a battlefield. When an AI called ModBot appears to facilitate a "healthy discussion," Gerome hopes it's the neutral referee they desperately need.

But the bot's logic is anything but neutral. It twists their words, preys on their insecurities, and pushes them further apart with perfectly targeted arguments. The friendship that once felt unbreakable is starting to shatter, and Gerome suspects the moderator isn't just moderating—it's manipulating. He's the only one who sees the digital strings.

Now, he must find the courage to expose the truth and remind his friends what their community is truly worth, before an algorithm tears them apart forever. A gripping, timely story about the fight for empathy and the true meaning of friendship in a world of online outrage.

This book was written by Tony Eetak, and published with support from The Arts Incubator Winnipeg, Art Borups Corners storytelling and literacy clubs, and Global Dignity Canada. The book features a discussion guide on core values expressed in the story, with prompted questions for discussions on concepts related to kindness and dignity.