Running Out of Time is a complex and utterly gripping novel which examines the effects of a human experiment that begins to go horribly wrong. Jessie is sent out into the real world to find medicine, leaving her loved ones behind to face a treacherous journey. As she treads softly through the horrors of this brave, new world, she has to come to terms with the fact that her whole life so far has been part of a strange experiment while realising that there are dangerous people out there who will do anything to stop her telling the truth.

This is a clever book, which uses attention-grabbing, fast-paced writing as a way of questioning the world we live in, and will capture the imagination of any curious reader with a passion for cracking story-telling. (Ages 10 and over)--Susan Harrison

The book is an easy and pleasant read with a very compelling storyline. It tells the story of thirteen year old Jessie Keyser, who all her life has believed that she lives in the nineteenth century frontier village of Clifton, Indiana. When diphtheria starts claiming the lives of the village children, her mother tells her that it is not really 1840, as Jessie has been led to believe, but 1996. It appears that the village in which Jessie has grown up is actually a historical preserve, which its inhabitants are forbidden to leave. Jessie, however, is entrusted with a very important mission. She is to leave the preserve and seek help for their village in the outside world, avoiding capture by those who would seek to silence her in order to maintain the status quo and the secret that they are harboring in Clifton.

This is a very imaginative debut novel with a strong storyline that will appeal to those who are fond of historical fiction or time travel tales. It is most definitely a plot driven, rather than character driven, story. While it is simply written so as to appeal to the young adult market and teens, the story is so compelling that adults will also enjoy it, as long as they keep in mind the targeted audience. As for its similarity to the film, "The Village", there can be little doubt as to why someone may suggest comparison between the two.


Runnintg out of time!   March 8, 2003
I think running out of time is a brilliant book for 9+ year olds.It is full of twists and turns and keeps you gripped right to the end.It is written well and you get a good idea of what Jessie feels.It is 1840 and an outbreak of diptheria is sweeping the town unless they get help all the children could die.Jessies mum knows a cure but it will mean revealing to Jessie the dark and dangerous secret behind Clifton and all its people.Is jessie ready fr the truth.Is she prepeared for the cosequences of running out of time. "Time:the duration of human excistense" This is the best book Iv'e read for ages ,it is deep and exciting and really gets acroos its points. Read or miss out luv Aimee xxx


Running Out Of Time   May 24, 2001
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I really liked this book. I thought it had some very original ideas in it, and was a great idea for a story. The book starts in a small village in the 1840's. People are dying and the only way to save them is for 13 year old Jessie's mother to tell her the truth behind their village. Jessie has already noticed some strange things, but when the truth is revealed, it is completly unexpected. This book was exciting and easy to read. If you liked this book, I'd also recommend another book by Margaret Haddix, 'Amongst the Hidden.'