ABANDONED. Book about a world where you have to buy words to talk

[Jay]

Title almost says it all that I remember. I know somewhere in the story there's a tyrannical leader since having more words = being rich. I remember vaguely about hearing it near 2010-2012. Probably for young adults.

[Robert]

I don't know about a tyrannical leader, but The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster features a market where one can buy words.

"For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams. . . ."

[Dee]

the one i'm thinking of its that old - but there is a YA dystopia that came out in the last couple of years with this theme - let me find the name

[Dee]

All Rights Reserved

[Rainbowheart]

Ella Minnow Pea?

[Kris]

Jay, what's the genre (which we need to add to the topic header/title) - e.g., YA [teen] or adult, dystopia, fantasy?

[Rainbowheart]

The List?

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Jay (OP) was last active on the site in September 2020.