Electric shocks for refusing a text? Brain damage for removing an ear piece? How far will a new Telco go to ensure it's market share? Bella, 15, and Nick, her school friend with Aspergers, love the new tech as much as anyone - until they begin to lose the power of speech. The Silencing is a young adult novel set in the present, where reliance on technology has taken away people's ability to communicate verbally. A massive Telco (Moby.com) has encouraged and enforced constant messaging - buidling up its empire while punishing those who rebel. A small group rebel - determining to learnt to communciate again.