Running Out of Time

Reader reviewed by Amanda

Having only discovered Margaret Peterson Haddix a few months ago, I've been slowly making my way through her books one at a time, this only being the 4th or so. I hold myself back from devouring the books simply because if I do that, I'll run out. Then I'll have to wait for the next new one. Amanda does not like waiting for new books from her favorite authors. Not one bit! So, I've been trying to read slowly. This one however, it was a one sitting book. I couldn't help myself. So much suspense...such a page turner. What was I supposed to do?!


Running Out of Time follows Jessie, a young girl growing up in Clifton, Indiana in the 1840's, living a normal teenage life in that time period. When children around her begin to get sick with what her parent's are saying is diphtheria, Jessie's mom fills her in on a horrifying secret. It's not 1840, it's 1996. Clifton is part of a social experiment in which tourists can watch the citizens every move with the help of cameras and windows placed strategically around the town. The owner's of Clifton will no longer allow medicine that could easily clear the diphtheria epidemic. Jessie must now embark on a mission to help save her friends and siblings, escaping Clifton and finding help in the huge city of Indianapolis. The journey itself is scary enough, but along the way she encounters cars, money exchange, and telephones, all while be costumed in blue jeans and a t-shirt, none of which she even knew existed. And she must do all of this before she runs out of time.


This plot captivated me from the very beginning. It was such a fresh and unique concept, one that kept me turning pages very quickly in order to get to the next part of the story. All of Haddix's books are like this, I can't wait to get to the next one!

Reader reviewed by Amanda

Oooh how I love this author! Having only discovered Margaret Peterson Haddix a few months ago, I've been slowly making my way through her books one at a time, this only being the 4th or so. I hold myself back from devouring the books simply because if I do that, I'll run out. Then I'll have to wait for the next new one. Amanda does not like waiting for new books from her favorite authors. Not one bit! So, I've been trying to read slowly. This one however, it was a one sitting book. I couldn't help myself. So much suspense...such a page turner. What was I supposed to do?!


Running Out of Time follows Jessie, a young girl growing up in Clifton, Indiana in the 1840's, living a normal teenage life in that time period. When children around her begin to get sick with what her parent's are saying is diphtheria, Jessie's mom fills her in on a horrifying secret. It's not 1840, it's 1996. Clifton is part of a social experiment in which tourists can watch the citizens every move with the help of cameras and windows placed strategically around the town. The owner's of Clifton will no longer allow medicine that could easily clear the diphtheria epidemic. Jessie must now embark on a mission to help save her friends and siblings, escaping Clifton and finding help in the huge city of Indianapolis. The journey itself is scary enough, but along the way she encounters cars, money exchange, and telephones, all while be costumed in blue jeans and a t-shirt, none of which she even knew existed. And she must do all of this before she runs out of time.


This plot captivated me from the very beginning. It was such a fresh and unique concept, one that kept me turning pages very quickly in order to get to the next part of the story. All of Haddix's books are like this, I can't wait to get to the next one!

Reader reviewed by Amelie

I am a complete book worm, I read an average of 4 books per week. Long books. Anyway, I picked up this book thinking it would be a great story. I was totally wrong. I absolutely hated it. Im sure this plot line, written by an able author would have been a great book, but the author sucked at writing it. Everything sounded so dull and fake. I threw it aside before I was finished because I couldnt bear to read one more page of that thing. I asked my friends if any of them had heard of it, and my friend who is an even bigger bookworm and nerd than I, also says it sucks. We had fun insulting it for a while, acutally. So...be warned...This book is horrible.

Reader reviewed by DoRy

Running out of Time is I think, a wonderful book. It talks about a girl who has a lot of ambition to try to do what's right and will not give up when chances arn't so high. It is a story of how a girl who thought she was normal, found out that really, she was nothing close. She'd had been living in the past all her life and when that secret had been reveiled to her... she was on a mission to save all her family,friends,and neighbors.