The Declaration, by Gemma Malley
Anna has lived most of her life at Grange Hall, a place where illegal children are raised as “Surplus” and taught to be Valuable Assets to society. Many years ago, a drug called Longevity was developed giving the entire planet immortality. But the surface population soon became overwhelming, so The Declaration was created, stating that it’s illegal to have children unless the parents op-out of immortality and the Longevity drug. Anna has only known the bleak and hopeless Grange Hall where all of the Surplus children are treated like slaves. But when a boy named Peter arrives, he begins stirring up trouble and tells Anna that she is not Surplus and that she has parents who love her and want her.
Anna begins as a brainwashed, subservient girl who begins to rethink her existence because of Peter and his persistent manner. Malley’s futuristic society is a harsh and depressing possibility of what humanity could become if people could live forever and children became obsolete. The narrative is well-paced, dramatic and full of suspense. A thought provoking tale, with a couple surprises, I thoroughly enjoyed this dystopian novel.
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