The Declaration

Spoilers ahead.The majority of this book is excruciating detail of abuse. It's honestly disturbing how in detail this author goes with it and how frequent it happens. The plot is thin, a girl with major brainwashing and Stockholm syndrome suddenly accepts that the parents she's been told who hate her and are selfish and that she's worthless actually love her and she should run away with this boy. The switch is entirely too fast and unbelievable. Out of no where suddenly Anna and Peter love each other, her parents commit suicide to "save her" after telling her they had her only because they were told they weren't allowed and the "authorities" suddenly for the first time uphold the life for a life.I will not be continuing the series because while the book isn't short on pages it definitely looks in character building. I'm just not interested in any of the characters it the "underground movement".

I'm an adult, but I love YA dystopia and read almost everything in this category.The Declaration is smack in the middle of this category--not the best, and not the worst. Just a good solid effort, sadly lacking in its execution.The concept is great: A future society, offering a longevity drug to everyone who pledges not to procreate, has created an underclass of "surplus" children, consigned to a life of servitude. The most powerful part of the book for me is the main character Anna, an appealing downtrodden artistic prodigy not allowed to pursue her talent by the evil government. The theme of an exceptional individual oppressed by a scary future government is one of my favorite in dystopian fiction.But the book, sadly, disappoints as the author seems to lack the creativity to flesh out compelling details of this imaginary world. She tells us again and again how oppressive it is: "Surpluses" are expected to obey and make themselves useful! They can't even look out the window, since they're "extra", not supposed to even exist and not allowed to enjoy life. And all because evil people want to live forever. The theme gets repetitive very quickly. Readers are spoon fed felt characters too starkly good or evil, as if we can't handle any subtlety. I'm not a teen anyone, but when I was, I could handle subtlety--then as now!The book simply comes off as dogmatic and preachy, without enough opportunity for the reader to draw his or her own conclusions and no nuances at all. Certainly there might be some advantages to a society in which people can live forever--perhaps amazing art and culture, science etc.? And what is the fallacy of this idea that is causing it to come unravelled? What's wrong with a society in which there are no children, only people taking longevity drugs? Explore it and show us why. That's what makes a good dystopia.It's not, however, effective to simply hit us over the head with a baseball bat, telling us how terrible this world is. Show us. Make us believe it. When I read a truly great dystopia, I'm outraged and scared at the vision, and even see a parallel with our current world. As just one description of how shallow the execution of the story is, there is a major plot hole, which calls into question the entire premise. With an all-powerful government, it would be a very simple matter to simply sterilize anyone who chose to take the longevity drug. But for some unexplained reason, this completely dictatorial government makes people sign a pledge on the honor system. Are you kidding? The story would have been much more interesting and much more realistic if the evil government simply decided who could have children and who could get longevity drug--perhaps by a supposedly random lottery which was actually rigged by the ruling elite. And in that scenario, the surpluses would be the children of an underground that didn't believe in the system and found some way to stay off the grid so they didn't get sterilized.But that is the book I would have liked to read, not the book that was written. This is a fine, light read which may briefly quench your need for a good dystopian novel, but ultimately will leave you hungry and wanting more.

I will start off stating that yes this is another Young Adult book (series), but I seriously wouldn't let that stop you from reading this book. The setting is in the year 2140 and we have this amazing drug that extends our lives. Want to live forever? There's just one catch, to do so you must agree to sign The Declaration and give up your right to have children; have a child unlawfully and your child becomes known as a "Surplus". "Surplus" children are all that live in Grange Hall (and others like it around the world). The children are taught to be assests and to serve the adults on the outside. Surplus Anna tries to find her place in this world and does so until a a new boy arrives: Surplus Peter. Peter lived his life in the outside world and he rebels what they are teaching the children at Grange Hill, it isn't long before Anna finds herself intrigued. Loved, loved, loved this book the next two in the series ARE on my "to get" book list. What intrigued me at first about the book was a review on Amazon that compared it to: "A Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood (a story I really enjoyed), and I must say I agree that in principle this book is very much so like "Handmaid's Tail". So many people become upset about the kids having to read "Handmaid's Tale" in HS (although these same parents would let their kids read The Twilight series or even the PC Cast series, which can get steamy, just trying to put some perspective on it), so if we HAD to go for an alternative I wouldn't hesitate to recommend "The Declaration". As a matter of fact I would have no problem with allowing my 11 year old son to read it, I have already recommended it to him. The story line is gripping, and the characters draw you right in. I was sucked right in and this time my racing to read the book had nothing to do with "getting it over with", I just couldn't wait to see what happened next. In no way do I think this book should be labelled as yet another Young Adult book (let's face it we all read them sometimes, Harry Potter anyone?!) to do so IMO limits it. The series isn't a huge hit so it won't be one that everyone is clamoring for, I sad thing if you ask me (and you did since you're reading this). It really is a great "cross-over" book (middle school and up).

This is a book that is aimed at a young adult readership, but it's one of those gems that can be picked up by an older reader and, because of the interesting concept and style of writing, can be enjoyed by them as well.I found the central theme really refreshing - there are no vampires or supernatural creatures here, just humans living in a future society where immortality is valued above all, and having children a punishable offence. Anna is a Surplus - as in surplus to requirements - who was discovered by the authorities as a toddler and taken away from her parents. She believes that she isn't worthy of hopes or dreams, or a life of her own, and is instead content to lead a life of service without asking too many questions.Then Peter comes along and changes everything. Soon Anna is left questioning her every belief and her world is turned upside down. A tense adventure follows, with a very dramatic climax - and I'm sure a sequel is soon to follow.The plot is cleverly written, the characters believeable - especially Anna's - and, although I found the ending rather a little too neat and couldn't work out for the life of me how certain parts of it were planned in advance by certain characters, I enjoyed it.To anyone who's a fan of Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games series or Richelle Meade's Vampire Academy series, this is a must read.

Favorite Quote: “Because no one needs to live for ever. I think that sometimes you can outstay your welcome.”Summary: In the year 2140, illness, aging and even death are no longer a problem, all thanks to a little drug called longevity. Longevity has the power to keep you young forever. But it has a downside with no one dying the world is starting to become over populated and resources are starting to run out. The government decides to act fast and creates a law which forces everyone when they hit the age of sixteen to choose to opt in or opt out of longevity. If you choose to opt in you sign the declaration and can take longevity and live forever but are never allowed have children, and if you opt out you will grow old naturally and are able to have children. Some people break the law and have illegal children which are called surplus, if you are found with an illegal child the parents will be sent to prison and the child will be given to a surplus hall which is kind of an orphanage for 'illegal' children.Like all Surpluses, The main character Anna is living in a Surplus Hall being trained as a housekeeper and learning how to make amends for the selfish act her parents committed in having her. She is quietly accepting of her fate until, one day, a new inmate arrives. Anna’s life is thrown into chaos. He says things about her parents and the Outside that couldn't possibly be true . . . Or could they?My Thoughts: I bought this book as an impulse buy on amazon one night, after reading the summary and the positive reviews I couldn't say no. I was really intrigued with the idea of a drug that could keep you young forever and what kinds of problems would come with it.The plot line in this book was very interesting and entertaining, This book is definitely a page turner and kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen next. Gemma Malley created a world that was so engrossing I couldn't look away for one minute. I thought her writing style was very charming and fun to read. The only con for this book would be that at times the characters seemed a little young so I felt it was very hard for me to connect with them in some parts of the bookI grew to love the main character Anna throughout the book, at the beginning of the book she was so naive and clueless, I wanted to shake her and tell her to open her eyes. As her character grew and developed I began to like her more and more. The romance that blossomed in this book between the two main characters was very sweet. It was lovely and refreshing to read a YA book that didn't involve a love triangle as one of the main plot points.Unexpected and very unique, This book is a must read for everyone. The Declaration had me excited until the very last page and I cant wait to read the other books in the series very soon.

In the near future, when longevity drugs have seen the population grow older and older whilst maintaining their health and looks, it is a crime to be a kid. Anna's parents signed the Declaration, meaning they were given the drugs, but part of the agreement is that they will never have children. When Anna came along, she was given the status of Surplus, and consigned to the social scrapheap.There is some good world building in this book, the concept was really interesting and one I've not seen done anywhere else and I enjoyed Anna as an MC, but ultimately the pacing was too slow to keep me hooked. There just seemed to bea lot of running and hiding and I needed something ... I don't know. Something else to keep me from putting it down. I might carry on with the series if I see it at the library as the end of the book leaves it wide open for the author to go in a number of different directions which makes me interested to see what she'll do.

Although enjoying a recent surge in popularity this year, The Declaration was published in 2008 (the same year as The Hunger Games) and so pre-dates many of the young adult dystopia currently ruling the best-seller lists, including the Matched (2010), Divergent (2011) and Delirium (2011) trilogies. And I actually found it refreshingly different from those more recent examples in a few ways. (As an aside, I have an older edition of these books and it bothers me that they've apparently been republished with covers that look so similar to the covers of The Hunger Games.)The novel opens with extracts from the diary of Anna, a 15-year-old girl who has grown up in Grange Hall and who knows little of the world outside it. Anna's full name is Surplus Anna, and she should never have been born. One hundred years or so from now, England is a very different place. In the year 2040, scientists trying to cure cancer instead discover a drug to halt the aging process and ward off death, indefinitely. With nobody dying and children still being born, England (and the world) becomes massively overpopulated. As a result, the Authorities introduce the Declaration: an agreement which must be signed at 16, forfeiting the right to have any children in exchange for access to the Longevity drug.For me, this is a brilliant concept because it's not completely unthinkable (a little like the concept in Unwind, of the pro-life debate being played out to extremes). It's set in the not-too-distant future and it's easy to imagine how humanity could - in its ongoing quest for medical progress - get itself into this kind of situation.Inevitably, not everybody is happy to sign the Declaration. The basic principle behind everything is `a life for a life' - so if someone chooses to opt out of the Declaration and therefore sacrifices their own longevity, they may have one child. But it's not that simple. In the early days of the Declaration, not everyone quite understood what they were signing. Many mistakenly thought they could take Longevity for a few years, and then opt out when they wanted to have a child. Others wanted the best of both worlds: to take Longevity but also have children.These children are referred to as Surplus and, if found, are taken away from their families and installed in Surplus Halls such as Grange Hall, where Anna lives. For as long as she can remember, Anna has been taught that her very existence is a crime against Nature, that she must be as useful and unobtrusive to society as possible, in order to pay for the sins of her parents. She understands that her parents committed a selfish and unnatural act in bringing her into the world; she doesn't remember them but she hates them. All Anna's energy goes into training to be useful - learning how to cook, do laundry, polish silverware - so that she can one day work as a housekeeper, serving those who have a right to be here. She may not be happy exactly, but Anna is a model Surplus and prefect, on course for a job in one of the nicer households when she leaves Grange Hall. She knows her place in society and she is determined to be as useful as possible so as to repay her debts to the world.All this - everything which Anna thinks she knows - is thrown into turmoil, though, with the arrival of Surplus Peter. Peter certainly doesn't know his place, nor does he understand the ways of the world. Despite Anna's attempts to ignore and avoid him, Peter insists on calling her Anna Covey, claims to know her parents and tells her he has come to Grange Hall to rescue her.I won't go into any more detail about the plot, to avoid spoiling what is a wonderful story. It has a very different feel from other books in the genre, for a few reasons.First of all, it's a bit simpler. There's a relatively small cast of characters, and no complex tangle of plots and sub-plots. This isn't a particularly long book, and it's very easy to read - whether all in one sitting or in smaller chunks over a longer period. And Gemma Malley is, I think, a brilliant writer, so it's also very enjoyable to read. I love the way certain concepts are capitalised - not just in Anna's diary but throughout the narrative: for example, Anna's primary goal is to become a Valuable Asset, so she works hard in training and Knows Her Place. Initially, this comes across as evidence of Anna's naivety and the extent to which she has (along with the other Surplus children) been brainwashed in Grange Hall. But as the novel progresses, and the capitals are used consistently in the narrative as well as the diary extracts, it becomes clear that these concepts and beliefs are firmly ingrained more widely amongst ordinary citizens.Second, all the cards seem to be laid out on the table. There's no sense that there are whole layers of the world we don't know about: Anna's diary explains the lay of the land pretty early on, the rules are clear and simple, and the consequences of breaking those rules are well-established. The Declaration is not so much about uncovering and fighting terrible truths, but rather about two young people simply trying to navigate their way through those rules. Perhaps because of this, the atmosphere of the novel is much calmer overall. Life inside Grange Hall is not pleasant and Anna has certainly known violence in her life, but there isn't the same violence and aggression throughout as there is in Divergent and The Hunger Games. There's more mental and emotional abuse than physical fighting, and the backdrop is one of civilian London rather than battle grounds and wastelands.Finally, that backdrop of civilian London is a far more familiar landscape than in other dystopian novels: London in a hundred years or so isn't that different from the London we know now, in terms of geography and technology. I read into this that, without new generations growing up, progress stalls; people simply stick with what they've always known and had. This is never explicitly stated, but is a more subtle criticism of this new society. In trying to achieve a utopian ideal of prolonging life, man has actually created the opposite: energy is strictly rationed, food is limited as nothing can be imported, and nobody is pushing for new developments.What The Declaration does have in common with those other books is the teenage heroine, who very suddenly finds her world expanding or shifting. Anna is a lovely character, very easy to warm to right from the first page of her diary. She's appealing in a different way to her counterparts elsewhere: she's not naturally defiant or argumentative or rebellious; on the contrary she is eager to please, naive and hard to `re-tune'. She isn't perfect - her treatment of Surplus Sheila is at times unkind, for example - but she is certainly sympathetic. Gemma Malley's technique of interspersing the narrative with Anna's diary entries allows us to build up a strong sense of who this girl is, making her reaction to Peter and her subsequent decisions and behaviour thoroughly believable.The only criticism I have with this book is the ending. It's all a bit too neat. Everything makes sense, the groundwork has been done throughout the earlier chapters, but it all comes together a little too conveniently to ring true (as far as a dystopian version of the future can ring true). But I can forgive Gemma Malley this - particularly because it seems like she was writing with a slightly younger, perhaps even pre-teenage, audience in mind.Aside from that small complaint, I can't fault The Declaration. The premise is thought-provoking and scarily plausible, it's very well written, and it's sufficiently different from other young adult dystopias to really stand out in the genre. I'd recommend this to mature pre-teens, teenagers and adults alike - in fact, I've already done so at work and online, and circulated my copy amongst my family.

Anna lives in Grange Hall, the one refuge place for people like her, people who shouldn't exist. She has lived there since she can remember and there she learns how to be useful. How to payback what she owes to the world for using up valuable resources just by living. But then a strange boy named Peter arrives, a boy who has lived outside Grange Hall all his life, and she starts to question things. Like, should she really be sorry for living?What I liked?Anna. Anna's progression through the book is very interesting. She changes quite a bit through out but she never looses her tough, stubborn edge. She can be a bit of a bitch sometimes but she has been given the worst out of life and is just trying to get by as best she can, living by the rules and expectancies of Grange Hall. When you read her diary it's really interesting to see initially how much she loathes her existence.Grange Hall. Ok no I didn't like The Hall but y'know, I... liked The Hall? I liked how well thought out the hall was. It was well constructed by Malley so you could easily picture it in your minds eye and imagine the suffering that goes on in there for the children's 'own good'The characters. Even though this is written as a teen's book there are a lot of multi-layered characters and you get to experience what they are experiencing through the way the book is written.The writing and world building. Like I said before for a teen's book this is a very detailed book. You learn these quirky little things about the building or the people in it and you get told stuff that later you find out is wrong. It makes you really feel like the whole book is just full of character and history and that this may actually happen because I believe people would go crazy and turn on their belief's if they could have a chance not to die.What I didn't like?This book felt like almost a kid's version of Never Let Me Go. It had the same boarding school feel with a sinister edge. And while there is a difference between the two schools, one planning to have you killed for the grater good and one planning to raise you for a life of servitude and only have you killed if you can't do it, they are still quite similar stories. Although, I feel it will become a lot more about the world and less about the school itself in the other books written in this series.To buy or not to buy?If you're looking for a series, buy it! If you're only looking for a one stop book I'd skip this.