The Declaration is a novel set in the future, where 'Longetivity' drugs have been invented, providing every human being with perfect health, and so essentially every human being can live for ever. Consequently, by taking these drugs, you have to sign the 'Declaration', which states that you aren't allowed to have a child, as the population would no longer be in balance. However, some people break the Declaration; these children are classed as 'Surplus', and are sent to a Surplus Hall, where they are trained to be servants, and help repent for their parents' sins.

Anna is a Surplus who lives in Grange Hall, and is on her way to becoming a 'Valuable Asset'. Her life as she knows it is thrown into turmoil when Peter, a new Surplus moves in. Peter claims that he knows her parents, and that he has come to rescue her, to take her to her home where she belongs. With him, he brings blasphemous notions; that 'Longetivity' drugs are wrong, that the 'Authorities' are wrong, and that there should not be a world full of old people and no youths.

The Declaration is an eerie page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat. The world that Malley has invented is precise in every way and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It managed to not only incorporate suspense and the importance of family and love, but it also raised a philosophical question- should there be a world where no one dies, but no one is born? The Declaration is definitely a book worth reading.

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