The Declaration

Yesterday I went into town for the first time in ages just to go to the bank and collect a magazine I'd reserved at WH Smith, and ended up buying 3 books! Normally I can't go in there without coming out with a new notebook, but the truth is I actually own nearly all the ones on display and the ones I don't, I don't really like enough to buy - though inside of the covers it's all lined paper!

But this time I got my magazine and a new ring binder for my college work and then while looking at a display of books I saw one which looked good and then found another two I liked the look of. I started reading one as soon as I got home and carried on today until I'd finished it. I prefer to read out loud sometimes as I find that the words and the story go into my mind easier, so I read some of it in the lounge, my room and the study upstairs as I didn't want to disturb anyone.

The one I chose to read first was called The Declaration by Gemma Malley. From the blurb on the back I thought it sounded like a really good book and after reading the first page I saw that it started with a diary entry - and I'm a big fan of anything to do with diaries, so I knew it would be a story for me.

It's based in the year 2140 and is told from the point of view of Anna, a 'surplus' child who has lived in an institution her whole life and doesn't know anything about the outside world. She's there with over 500 more children who weren't allowed to be born and whose parents are in jail because of their existence. It's all due to a scientist coming up with Longevity drugs which allow people to stop growing older and therefore they never get ill or die, so because people aren't dying there is no room in the world for 'new people' and so a Declaration is created which people can sign upto meaning they will have the drugs to prevent them from dying and won't have children. There is the option of 'opting out' which allows you to have one child but 'legal' children aren't seen much of.

Anna believes everything she has been told by Mrs Pincent - the house matron - and the instructors her whole life, but when Peter arrives and tells her things about the outside and that he has been sent to take her back to her parents, she starts to doubt everything she has been taught to believe in and eventually turns against the institution and manages to escape with Peter to a new life with her parents, but it doesn't last long. 'Catchers' are sent after them as soon as their escape is discovered and the only way for Anna and her new baby brother to be able to live on the outside as 'legal' is for her parents to die as the declaration states 'a life for a life', which they had been planning to do, just not as soon.

When I first realised it was set in the future I thought it might have been a bit 'out there' and all about spaceships and everything being futuristic, but it was really good and I enjoyed it. I would definately recommend it. I found out that there is another book which follows on about Anna and Peter's lives on the outside, so I think I might have to buy it and read it or I might just start on the other 2 I bought.