Dystopia Challenge Review #6: The Declaration, Gemma Malley

In the year 2140, no one dies. No one Legal, anyway. Longevity drugs have allowed everyone to live forever, but at a price. To stem the crowding and strain on the world's resources it has become illegal to have a child. Those that do are imprisoned and their child taken to cruel institutions like Grange Hall. Anna is such a child, a Surplus, and it is her duty to feel guilty for every breath she takes, every mouthful of food, as it is stolen from a Legal. Her penance is to learn to be Useful, to become the servant of a Legal, and Anna has tried her very hardest all her life to Know Her Place.

That is until Peter comes to Grange Hall and begins to question everything Anna knows about Surpluses and the outside world. Thoroughly indoctrinated by Mrs Pincent, the cruel House Matron, Anna resists Peter's blasphemy at first. But his insistence that she is Anna Covey, not Surplus Anna as she has always thought, and that she doesn't belong in Grange Hall gives Anna the strength she needs to hope for a life on the Outside.

Anna is beautifully realised. She's quiet and sweet, a "good girl" who has been exploited by the system. She's thoroughly indoctrinated, but as she nears the end of her time in Grange Hall she keeps a secret diary. This is a huge act of rebellion for any of the Surpluses. I rather think that if I had been locked away in Grange Hall, I would have turned out something like Anna--but Malley probably intended for all girls to think that! Grange Hall abounds with Dickensian cruelty--whippings, short rations and stretches in Solitary. Think Lowood but run by Nazis.

The diary as a story-telling device is popular in books for teenage girls, but can easily become tedious and redundant. The Declaration begins with Anna conveniently filling in the reader with the back story, which unfortunately feels rather fake. The narrative switches between the diary format and a close third, and often the entries go over things that the reader is already privy to.

But that's the only gripe I have with The Declaration. I was unsure about the cover at first, the prettiness bound with barbed wire, but it works perfectly with the tone of the book. The romance is sweet and the escape is gripping. This is a perfect novel for anyone who wants to begin with a gentle dystopian to ease them into the genre. After reading it I would recommend Obernewtyn or some John Wyndham.

There's a sequel just released in May, The Resistance, which continues Anna and Peter's story.

My Library Haul

We're twelve days into winter and Melbourne is officially colder than a witch's titty. To get myself through the next four freezing wet days (I love you part-time work, let's elope before my bf gets home) I picked up the most awesome haul of books at two of my libraries. (I'm a member of three separate library services, and considering a fourth. One is not enough.)

Expect reviews of the following over the next week. Now follow me and try not to drool...


I've heard good things about this Frankie Banks. I have no idea what it's about. Love the cover.


From 1983. I've heard the movie is awesome. Hope this is too.


THIS book, The Death of Grass from 1956, is tipped to be one of the best post-apocalyptic books of all time. It's just been re-released and I managed to snare it first at my lib. I'm nearly wetting my pants with excitement.


I haven't read enough pupil-and-teacher-have-affair books. I just haven't.


This is speculative/dystopian I believe. Don't know about the cover. Excessively girlie with barbed wire. Hmmm.


Larbalestier is an Aussie and she's all over the web--two decent reasons for reading her books. I really don't fancy the look of How to Ditch Your Fairy, but this magic trilogy looks promising.

So whaddya think? What fabulous books will you be filling your weekend with?

I'm putting the finishing touches on a post exploring the relationship between Humbert Humbert and Lolita so look out for it later this weekend.