Children in the Surplus Halls are taught that their existence is wrong, and that the only way they can atone for their parents' crime is through hard and constant labor.

Because journals are forbidden at Grange Hall,[4] Anna has to hide her diary[5] on a secret shelf inside of the girls' bathroom.

[7] After a narrow escape, the children run from Grange Hall, then seek shelter in Mrs. Sharpe's garden shed.

Mrs. Sharpe is frightened to discover Anna and Peter, but reluctantly harbors them and feigns ignorance when a search party comes to her door.

Diane Samuels of The Guardian criticized the book's writing, describing it as "prosaic" and "resorting to passages that tell the reader how it is rather than allowing the characters to live and breathe."

Samuels found The Declaration emotionally shallow and politically simplistic, saying: "More complexity is needed to grapple meaningfully with the psychological impact of such a profound alienation between adults and children.

"[9] Nicolette Jones, writing in the Sunday Times, described the book as "[a] fine debut" and "convincing.

"[10] The series is part of a larger trend of dystopian young adult literature, and has attracted some scholarly attention.

Susan Louise Stewart identifies a broad theme of futuristic Holocausts, drawing parallels from Malley's books to Lois Lowry's The Giver, Neal Shusterman's Unwind, and Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games.

[11][12] Jennifer Ford identifies a similar theme of overpopulation motifs in young adult books, including the Declaration trilogy.