This is a world where people are controlled by what they can say. More specifically, how much they can say. Jessie is living in the middle of a time where everyone can only speak 1,000 words in their whole lifetime. So no one can waste their words saying anything mean or cruel. They have to watch what they say, or they'll end up forcibly and completely silent. The government controls everything and doesn't let anyone have any leeway. But it appears as though the government has messed up. Because Jessie's friend Luke is able to do something no one else can. And he might be able to help her.