[TC0]∎ Read The Declaration Gemma Malley 9781599901190 Books

The Declaration Gemma Malley 9781599901190 Books

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The Declaration Gemma Malley 9781599901190 Books

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.


Tags : The Declaration [Gemma Malley] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. It's the year 2140 and Longevity drugs have all but eradicated old age. A never-aging society can't sustain population growth,Gemma Malley,The Declaration,Bloomsbury,1599901196,Family - Orphans & Foster Homes,Science Fiction,Aging;Juvenile fiction.,Children;Juvenile fiction.,Immortality;Juvenile fiction.,Aging,CHILDREN'S FICTION SCIENCE FICTION,Children,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,Children: Grades 4-6,England,Fantasy & Magic,Fiction-Science Fiction,Immortality,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Family Orphans & Foster Homes,JUVENILE FICTION Science Fiction,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Fiction General,Juvenile Grades 4-6 Ages 9-11,Juvenile Science Fiction Fantasy,Social Issues - General,United States

The Declaration Gemma Malley 9781599901190 Books Reviews

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 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).
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.