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It’s the year 2140 and Longevity drugs have all but eradicated old age. A never-aging society can’t sustain population growth, however…which means Anna should never have been born. Nor should any of the children she lives with at Grange Hall. The facility is full of boys and girls whose parents chose to have kids—called surpluses—despite a law forbidding them from doing so. These children are raised as servants, and brought up to believe they must atone for their very existence. Then one day a boy named Peter appears at the Hall, bringing with him news of the world outside, a place where people are starting to say that Longevity is bad, and that maybe people shouldn’t live forever. Peter begs Anna to escape with him, but Anna’s not sure who to trust: the strange new boy whose version of life sounds like a dangerous fairy tale, or the familiar walls of Grange Hall and the head mistress who has controlled her every waking thought?

Comments on: "The Declaration – Gemma Malley" (35)

  1. Hannah said:

    Wow! This book was positively amazing. I think it showed exactly how the future will be. I loved how much detail Gemma Malley put into this book and I was blown away by how moving and amazing this book was. This book in based in the future, in 2140 where the Longevity drug runs the world. The Longevity drug replaces the dying cells in your body and you stay the same age. If you have children, the would be killed because of risk, of overpopulation, if you were lucky and didn’t get killed you were turned into a slave to the “proper” citizens of the world. This book follows the story of Anna, a mere surplus, a servant to the citizens of the world because her parents took the Longevity drug but still has a child. Anna meets a boy who shows her what her life means and helps her escape her fate. Peter begs Anna to escape with him so she can meet her parents and live in the outside world. I loved this book and I recommend it to everyone 11+, I rate is an 8/10 and I thought it was an amazing read for everyone.

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  2. Holly said:

    The declaration. This book was amazing and I loved it so much! It is so different to all of the other books out there and it always has you on the edge of you seat.The declaration is about a drug that can make you live forever, but if you take it you can’t have kids. But some people defy the law and still have kids. This book is about a girl named Anna, her parents took the declaration. Her parents knew that there was a risk that people would find out and she would be taken away but, they put it all on the line. Anna lives inside in Grange Hall ever since she was taken by catchers when she was two. She grows up being told that her parents were selfish and that she was a burden, and of course not knowing any better, she believes it.Everything is going great for her, she even becomes a prefect! But then one day, a new kid comes to Grange Hall and puts some ideas in her head, his name is Peter. But he tells her something that she denies to believe because she thinks it can’t be true. Peter says ” I know your parents.”

    That’s all I’m going to say, but I really do recommend this book and it is just a phenomenal book and give it it 10/10!!!!

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  3. Ella A said:

    I love Sci-fi and romance as two separate genres but Gemma Malley has just created a new genre. I would recommend it to all.
    ‘The Declaration’ is a great take on the future and what drugs we would be taking to keep healthy.
    Anna is a surplus and she is not mean’t to exist…but she does. She lives at Grange hall…all surplus such as herself do. She is born to stay in the shadows as a servant of a legal. She is learning to be a valuable asset, and is destined to be one until…….Peter arrives. What will happen if..if..if.
    I would recommend to all ages from 10+ and up. Please take it by my word….pick up this fabulous book and start reading. Happy Reading

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  4. Grace said:

    WOW!! If you are looking for a book that you can’t put down and is full of futuristic scenes, mystery and adventure, then the declaration is for you!! You read the first page and then you can’t stop there, you will be hooked.

    This book is set in the future where a longevity drug has been invented to let you live forever, but there is also rules that come with that, this rule is called the declaration and it states that you can’t have children.

    The way the book is written engages you so much that you have to read on!! rEally a fantastic book and I recommend it to everyone from the age of 11-14!! 🙂

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  5. In the declaration, it is year 2140, and scientists have invented a pill that makes you live forever. But there’s one catch, you can’t have any children if you take the pill, and you can’t change your mind after you have children either. The pill, essentially, makes you stop growing. Anna, who’s parents took the pill and still had her, is called a Surplus. She must live in a house with other surpluses, and then, once she is trained, must go and be a salve to a person who has taken the Longevity drug. My favourite character in the book is Peter, because he is so courageous to go through what he does to rescue Anna, even though she isn’t very nice to him, and refuses to believe him. My favourite scene is when they are hiding in the shed, and the policemen are looking for them outside. I didn’t really enjoy this book, there wasn’t enough action in it for me, and when it did have action, it wasn’t that exciting for me. I felt like most of the book was set in Grange Hall, and there wasn’t a lot of interesting things going on in it. I would give this book a 5/10, because I think it is quite creative.

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  6. Jasmin M said:

    The Declaration is exciting, romantic, with a little bit of action and an ending you never predict. It is a book for all kinds of people and one of my favourite books. Anna and Peter from the first time they meet you know something is going to happen. Its a FANTASTIC book! Anna believes she is a burden on Mother Nature. She is a Surplus; a child that should have never been born, a waste of space. A special drug, Longevity, has defeated the undefeatable – death. It’s defiantly a MUST read book!
    I give a ultimate 10/10 and a huge THUMBS up.
    I recommend it to every one.

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  7. The Declaration is a fantastic book! It’s one of those stories where it’s like a wake up call. It’s interesting and has a real story line and all but it’s when you finish the book with a new outlook on life, it shows you other ways to see things, and that my friend is how you know you’ve read a great book!♥ I really ♥love♥ how Gemma Malley wrote this book, I don’t know how she did it! Gemma came up with a whole new plot for a book that is just SOOO out side the box! I really admire her for that! I do really like her style of writing, it pulls you in then lets you tag along for a while and when you loss focus it suddenly has an unpredictable twist! I would say it’s a fantastic read and especially since it’s her first book for young adults. I have really fallen in love with each of these characters even mrs Pincent as the book would not be the same with out the terrible atmosphere we get from her. I would recommend this book to all the adventure and romance fans out there! Have fun, hope you like it as much as I did!

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  8. ‘The declaration’ was so unique in lots of different ways, for example it’s set pretty far into our future and really makes you question if that’s what our future will look like. All these pills and drugs, is this what it could lead to, advancing very far into the future, Gemma Malley gives us her insight on what our future could be to her, almost a warning to be careful of what you wish for. I think my favourite aspect of this book is the romance, oh the romance. I would never get tired of the everlasting cuteness of the couple destined by fate in this book and I know they are make believe characters but I felt privileged to be able to witness the coming together of a life altering event in which Peter and Anna ki-ki-KISSSSSSS! When it FINALLY came I went berserk as the scene that I had been imagining forever finally reached it’s eventual, inevitable happening. I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading and loves a good romantic novel.

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  9. The Declaration is an awesome book that everyone should have a chance to read! My favourite characters are Peter and Anna. It is so helpful how Peter helps Anna to escape Grange Hall, imagine if this was real.

    I’ve only read this book once and I will read it again!!
    I recommend this book to ages 11+ and I rate this book 9/10 😀

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  10. Coco B said:

    The Declaration is an AMAZING read!
    Anna believes she is a burden on Mother Nature. She is a Surplus; a child that should have never been born, a waste of space. A special drug, Longevity, has defeated the undefeatable – death.
    After the world realised that the number of people on earth threatened to tip the scales of a healthy, balanced population, all people had to sign the Declaration if they wanted to continue taking these drugs. The Declaration said that no one was allowed to have children unless they Opted Out of Longevity to eventually and inevitably die. A life for a life.
    Anna is a Surplus, a child whose parents didn’t Opt Out for her. She lives at Grange Hall, and there she is taught to hate her parents, for having her, for what they did to her.
    But one boy at Grange Hall is certain to change her life forever.
    The Declaration is such a gripping book, and really opened my eyes to the greedy desires and fears of the human heart. I never really knew that people could be so selfish, and after reading this book I saw that desire even in myself. I think that it is in everyone.
    The Declaration is a haunting vision of the future, and I hope that this world would never resort to such a horrible way of life. I think you can outstay your welcome in this world.
    9/10

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  11. Olivia G said:

    This book is extraordinary – its one of my favourites! Anna shouldn’t be here, she shouldn’t even exist but she does. Its the year 2140 and mankind has defeated what might have been the undefeatable, death itself. When the drug that made you live forever was produced to the world everyone had to sign a declaration that you had to have no kids. If you did, one of the parents had to sacrifice there lives, a life for a life they call it. But Anna’s parents broke the declaration and now she must live at Grange Hall to obey many rules to overrule the one rule that was broken. To be born. Then peter comes along and tells Anna about the outside. With a little convincing Anna sneaks out with Peter to discover what she really has been missing. I give this book a 9 out of 10.

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  12. WOW what a book, I love it. This book is totally different to author books as the author has used a completely different scene and story line, which I have definitely enjoyed. The two main characters are Anna and Peter. Peter is so caring towards Anna which I find soooo nice.This book has so many unpredictable scenes, like the ending which will leave you hanging off your chair wanting to read more. I strongly recommend this book for people who enjoy a little bit of adventure and romance.

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  13. I absolutely love the book, The Declaration and think that everyone should read this awesome book. At the start I thought it was really boring and slow starting but it got really good really quickly after the first part. This book is absolutely full of adventure, you will fall in love with the characters, and hate some of them as well. This book is full of secrets that will make you keep reading until you find out what the secret or problem was. I just loved the last few chapters as you found out so much information, I found myself defiantly shocked when I found out all of the secrets that the character had. I really want to read the next two books from this series! The only thing that I didn’t particularly like about then end was how quickly it ended, it seemed like they were in the heat of the moment and then everything was solved and ended. Peter is still my favourite, as he has been all the way through the book, he is my favourite because he is super nice and will do anything for Anna because he cares for her and loves her so much. And I hate Mrs Pincent because she is so mean and un thoughtful, plus she wanted to kill someone that really was family even if she didn’t know it then! I really think that everyone should read this amazing book!

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  14. Overall, I loved this book. It was full of new ideas and originality that made it interesting. I love the idea that Anna is taken away from her parents before the age of 3, she had never known life outside of Grange Hall. She’s in there to work off her sins and she’s taught to hate her parents. It’s all about rules and discipline. The only thing she wants is to be a Valuable Asset and work off her sins. It’s definitely a great idea, having her focused on becoming a servant and then Peter comes along and changes all her ideas. Peter is my favourite character in this book. Where Anna is behaved, quiet and a good girl, Peter is strong, bold and sticks up for what he believes in. My least favourite character is Mrs Pincent. I despise her. She is pure evil. This is a very interesting book and I recommend it to everyone! 🙂

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  15. Oh my God. I love this book! I didn’t think Mrs Pincent would actually do what she did, and found out what she did. It was so exhilarating reading this book, it’s such a page turner in the last couple of chapters! I was so surprised that Shelia let her shield down and gave Mrs Pincent Anna’s journal, and finidng out every little secret about Anna, she should of never written in the book, and never let it out of her sight. At the start of week 1, reading 7 chapters each week, I couldn’t be bothered, but gradually I read it, and loved it! I can’t wait to read the second and third book. I love the happy ending, but I hate the rule in the Declaration, “a life, for a life”. But finally Anna, Peter and even little Ben were saved, and were able to live a normal life, with under Declaration rules.

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  16. This book is awe inspiring and truly amazing. It will leave you on the each of the seat and you will be unable to tear your your self away from anna and her world.The story anna tells made my head spin all my emotions were dancing around inside my head. It is absolutely astonishing, astounding, surprising, stunning, staggering, shocking, startling, stupefying, breathtaking, sensational, remarkable, spectacular, stupendous, phenomenal, extraordinary, incredible, unbelievable, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping an it is certainly literary wondrous.The story line is about a girl called anna who lives in a world where a drug that allows you to live forever has been found, But you are only allowed the drug if you agree not to have a child. For the the people who take the drugs life’s a breeze but for the surpluses like anna life is hard, serving the those who live forever. The ending is like no other it is mind blowing and leaves you wanting more.I love this book and would recommend it to every one and any one.

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  17. This was the week of reading the Declaration and I was really upset. There is 2 more other books after this called The Resistance and The Legacy. The Declaration didn’t turn out how i expected it to and I was really happy with the ending because they deserved what they got and it wasn’t their fault they were born. This was such a shocking and mind blowing book and I am so happy that I got to read it. My favorite character would definitely have to be Peter because he know’s what he wants and know’s who he is. I really can’t wait to read the next 2 books. I really don’t know what to expect from them.

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  18. The Declaration is an exciting, romantic, with a little bit of action and an ending you never predict. It is a book for all kinds people and one of my favourite books. Anna and Peter from the first time they meet you know something is going to happen, but not what is going to happen. The Declaration is a book you can predict what is going to happen except most of the time not a lot of the predictions happen. Mrs Pincent is a mean, horrible, disgusting, awful person but until I knew why she was like that I absolutely hated her, then felt sorry for her. After reading the Declaration I really hope that our future is not like that and we don’t end hating the youth just because they can over rule you.

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  19. The book has been amazing. It was so extraordinary, I did not know the end was really what it would have been. the moment about Anna’s parents which was so unexpected, But shows their love for Anna. This last part of the book was way different to what i thought it would be like, and a sad but great ending. Now i just want to read more, When i heard there was another book i was so excited!! Altogether i just could not put this book down, I am hoping to soon get right into the next book; The Resistance 🙂

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  20. Lucinda said:

    The Declaration is one of my favourite books that I have ever read! It has a really lovely storyline and has the most unexpected ending! My favourite part of this book is all the lovely cute moments Peter and Anna share! My favourite character is Peter, just because he is so down to earth and different from everyone else. My least favourite character is Mrs Pincent, because I don’t understand how she could be so cruel, when she’s experienced what the parents (whose children are called surpluses and are illegal and are taken away) feel herself. This book really jumped out at me just because it was very cleverly written. The whole idea of setting it in the future and having ‘legals’ which live forever, made this book so unique! I would recommend this book to anyone, it is a really good read and has you hooked from the very first page. I would rate it 10/10!

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  21. This book is absolutely amazing!!! The Declaration is definately one of the best books I have read in a while. My favourite character is this book is a Peter. I loved him because he was so quirky and interesting. My favourite part of this book was the unexpected, jaw dropping ending. I dont have a least favourite part of the book, it was all awesome! I would change nothing about this book! I would recommened this book to anyone between the ages of 11-16. I think people who like a bit of a love story would enjoy this book. Overall I am so glad I got to read The Declaration and I would rate It a 10 out 10!! You would be missing out if you didnt read this book! 🙂

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  22. This book was really good and it asked us if you would take the drugs? and if yoou would have kids? and I f you were the government what would you do? and would you sign the declaration? This made us really think about what we really want out of our life. It lso raised lots of questions about the way they treat the surpluses and a few questions about cruelty. My favourite character is Peter because he questions things and I really liked the twist at the end about his past. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a book which raises a lot of questions.I rate this book 5/5.

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  23. Isobel said:

    I found this book great. It was so interesting and intriguing. Anna’s character especially intruigs me. Surplus Anna is brought up in a society where a cure for ageing has been found and surpluses, like herself are forced to give back to nature, and try to fix their parents sins. Anna has no opinion, she is a surplus, they are brainwashed into having none. Anna is brought up in Grange hall, an institute for children who, according to the law, do not deserve their life and it is worthless.
    This book really captures me because of all the imagination that has gone into. It gets me thinking about what the world would be like in 100years, will it be like The Declaration?

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  24. Lorena said:

    I absolutely l o v e d reading this book. It was so interesting I could hardly put it down. I thought the writer did a really good job of writing it and she would have had a great imagination to come up with a whole different world in the future. I think the storyline is really good and imaginative, and she did a really good job of keeping me interested throughout the whole book. I loved how the main character, Anna was such a quiet, obedient well mannered girl at the start who could be influenced so easily by Mrs Pincent, and then towards the end you saw her change into an independent, disobedient girl who could stand up for herself and defend the ones she loved. It was really fascinating reading about how life could be like one day, and the possibilities there could be. I would rate this book a 4.99 out of 5 and I think anyone above the age of 10 would love reading this book.

    Read this book and ask yourself “Imagine what life would be like if you could live forever”. :))

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  25. Where do I start ?!?!?! The most unexpected thing has happened. It was so out there ! It all happened at once. I would love to tell you guys but of course you have to read it for yourself. I just couldn’t believe this amazing twist that the author had put on the end. It smacked my so hard in the face. It was a great book and I wish it went on forever ! I’m going to so get the squeal ! I recommend this to anyone 12+ !

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  26. Goodness gracious! What an AMAZING book! I loved the end, which held tones of twists and turns, which in the end held a good outcome. Peter and Anna got to live together, not illegally- by the way- with the small, Ben. I don’t like how Peter’s Grandfather came in just after Anna’s parents killed them-selves, like it was sort of staged. Anna and Peter said that they would never take the drug, I would do the same thing. I think their relationship is super cute! I hate the fact that people would judge them just because they were young. They have more of a right to be on Earth then the people that do take the Longevity drug, even though they’ve convinced themselves that Mother Nature hates the fact that new children are being born. This book is amazing, I is suited to young people, around 12-15, and people who are just curious about what our future holds- robots, drugs that make you live forever or surpluses.

    I love this book, and looking forward to the sequel :).

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  27. I’ve finished the book, and am really surprised at the ending. Everything Peter and Anna worked for and escaped for disappears. Although it is a sought of sad ending its sweet that Peter and Anna, and Anna’s little brother Ben, all live sought of happily at the end. Although i can tell that the story doesn’t end and theres still alot of drama yet to come.

    I’m glad i read this book, and am excited to read the next book 🙂

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  28. The Declaration is a great book. It is set in the future where, because of a drug called Longevity, nobody can die. With the exception of people who choose to. The story is about a girl named Anna, who, at the beginning of the book was called Surplus Anna, but by the end of the book we know as Anna Covey. Anna is a surplus, which means she is an illegal child, she was not supposed to have been born. All of these illegal children are sent away and are trained to think that they are substandard and sort of inhuman, they are trained to think that they are to serve normal people. Anna is set in this ay of thinking, until a boy called Peter arrives. He changes things as he says “I know your parents” The declaration is the story of how Anna comes to understand and how she and Peter plan to escape Grange Hall, and return to her parents. The book raises all sorts of moral questions about society. I thought this book was great and I felt really involved in the story. I remember feeling outraged at the thoughts Anna had in the beginning of the book “Natures about preserving the old” and things like that. I recommend this book to anyone aged 12+

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  29. This is a fantastic book I read in Literature Circles. The book is set in the future, where no one dies because of Longevity Drugs. It’s about Anna Covey and her life in Grange Hall, a place where they put people who ‘were not meant to be born’. Anna knew her place, to work hard so she could make up for her sin of living. She knew her future, until Peter came. This is a great read, and it’s great for people who like drama and suspense.

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  30. I’ve just read an amazing book called The Declaration by Gemma Malley, set in the future. It’s about a girl called Anna who is called a surplus, unwanted and despised in her society. She believes that she shouldn’t exist, that she is a burden to the Earth, untilo she meets Peter, from th Outside.

    It’s a brilliant book!

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  31. I ABSOLUTELY adore this book !! this is an amazing book about Anna Covey. (Surplus Anna) should not be here, she should not exist but she does. Anna Covey is a surplus that should never have been born. In a society that is no longer aging, population cannot continue to grow. Anna Covey has spent her whole life at Grange Hall, an institute to teach surplus’ their place in life and for Anna and the other students to make amends for the selfish act their parents committed in having them. Anna is quietly accepting her fate until Peter shows up. Peter a new surplus who has been in hiding all his life has just arrived at Grange hall. Alot of things begin to change when Peter starts to become a small part of Annas life. This book is amazing for all ages and what makes it so different is that it is set many years in the future. This book does connect greatly to the world because there are orphanages around the world and in the near future we dont know how the world will turn out but i may just be like this. This is is unbelivably amazing and i think everybody should read it because it really changes the way you see things!

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  32. A really good book that I am currently reading is The Declaration. It’s about a girl named Anna who is being kept in a detention camp where children are taken when their parents have been caught doing something wrong. It is set in the future and all that Anna has to live with is a few basic toiletries and a secret diary that someone gave her. Suddenly a boy comes along and her life starts to change.
    This is a really good book about a girl who learns about her past and starts heading towards the future. I would recommend it to anybody who has an interest in reading about people who take a second chance at life.

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  33. The Declaration by Gemma Malley is one of the best books i have ever read.
    Anna Covey lives in Grange Hall, a place where you are taken to if you have been illegally born.
    One day peter arrives and she thinks he is bad news. After a while they become friends.
    Peter take Anna out into the real world and shows her things she never dreamed of seeing. xoxox

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  34. The Declaration by Genna Malley is another great book. It’s eyeopening and thrilling.

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  35. I’d really reccomend ‘The Declaration’ by Gemma Malley. It’s a very gripping and eye-opening read.

    Anna Covey should never have been born. She ‘unrightfully’ lives in a world where mankind has defeated their worst enemy. Death. With society never aging, and its population never extending, death is no longer feared, and children are an abomination…and having them is a selfish crime.

    Anna accepted this a long time ago as she is kept in isolation, but it takes a newcomer from the Outside to open her eyes…

    It’s a fantastic book!

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