The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Erlick, Nikki. The Measure. HarperCollins Publishers, 2022.

Nikki Erlick's novel The Measure is written from the third person point of view and in the past tense. The novel is primarily set in New York City and Washington, D.C. The narrative assumes a linear plot structure, and traces the five seasons following the arrival of mysterious boxes on each adult individual's doorstep worldwide. Holistically, the narrative follows the lives of eight main characters, Nina, Maura, Ben, Amie, Jack, Javier, Hank, and Anthony. The novel finds its structural inspiration in the seasons of their life following the boxes' arrival, and each of their distinct points of view. The following summary assumes a linear and streamlined mode of explanation.

One March morning, a series of strange, wooden boxes appeared on the doorsteps of every adult individual over 21 worldwide. Inside each box was a string, measuring the remaining duration of the recipient's life. When everyone began noticing their boxes outside their front doors, they started posting about the global mystery online.

Nina saw the news articles and social media discussions and panicked. She and her girlfriend Maura had also received the boxes. Despite Nina's reluctance to open them, Maura insisted. They soon discovered that Nina would live to be an old woman, while 29-year-old Maura had roughly 10 years to live. Nina felt the future she had been building with Maura begin to crumble. Suddenly nothing in her life was certain any longer. When she realized she could not give Maura the support she needed, she encouraged her girlfriend to join a support group.

Maura heeded Nina's advice and joined a support group for short-stringers. The group met at the Connelly Academy, a private school located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Initially skeptical of the group, Maura soon developed relationships with her fellow group members.

Ben was also a member of Maura's support group. When he discovered he had a short string, his world also fractured. His girlfriend left him and he had little reason left to hope. One day while in group, Ben accidentally left a page of notes behind in the classroom where they met.

When Amie, Nina's younger sister, reported to the Connelly Academy for school the following Monday, she found Ben's note in her classroom. Curious about its contents and author, she wrote back, leaving the letter behind. Ben discovered the note the following Sunday, and the two individuals began a correspondence. Instead of sharing the intimate details of their personal lives, Amie and Ben wrote to each other about love, luck, happiness, and sorrow.

Hank was another member of Maura's and Ben's group. Unlike the other members, Hank was rapidly approaching the end of his string. He knew he had little time left to live and was eager to spend it well. While attending a demonstration with the group one weekend, he jumped in front of a gunman in an attempt to save his friends. He died from his wounds.

Meanwhile, a young man named Jack was attending a military academy in D.C. When he and his best friend Javier opened their boxes, they decided to switch strings. Jack's string was long and Javier's was short. Because all long-stringers would be deployed, they decided to go through with the swap. Javier had always felt called to a life in the service, no matter how brief it might be.

Over the months that followed, the strings became an increasing source of division in political and social arenas. These changes affected each of the character's ability to find happiness, purpose, and meaning. Then one day, a viral video promoting togetherness and unity birthed the Strung Together movement. The movement changed the cultural mood, and inspired newfound solidarity between disparate individuals.

Roughly 10 years after the strings' arrival, Maura died. Although grieving, Nina did not despair. She and Maura had made a happy life together despite its brief duration. Not long later, Amie and Ben, who had created a family together, also died. Nina adopted their young children. For the first time in her life, she was able to find peace, joy, and beauty in the present moment.