Running Out of Time

Return to the classic middle grade time-bending thriller Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix, almost thirty years following its first publication, with this stunning repackage.

Clifton, Indiana, 1840. Jessie Keyser lives with her family in a small log cabin. Her father is a blacksmith and her mother cares for her and her siblings—though, at night, Jessie’s mother also secretly tends anyone who gets sick in their village.

Lately, more and more people have been falling ill. Especially the other kids in Jessie’s one-room schoolhouse. Quarantine signs appear on the local homes. And Jessie’s mother looks worried. Very worried. One night, she tells Jessie that it’s a diphtheria outbreak—a dangerous disease. And if they don’t act soon, some of those sick children could die. Then Jessie’s mother tells her that only Jessie can help—by leaving Clifton.

But Jessie’s mother also reveals a shocking truth about the outside world, and what, where, and when Clifton is. Jessie will have to escape and survive a totally strange world, because she and her friends are all running out of time.

“The action moves swiftly, with plenty of suspense, and readers will be eager to discover how Jessie overcomes the obstacles that stand in her way… This book will appeal to fans of time-travel or historical novels as well as those who prefer realistic contemporary fiction." —School Library Journal, starred review

The adventure continues with a next-generation Keyser, Zola, in Falling Out of Time, the sequel to Running Out of Time.

What happens when your entire life is a lie, and you’re the only one who can find the truth?

A Time Slip Twist: Jessie believes she lives in 1840. But when a deadly disease strikes, her mother reveals a terrifying secret: their village is a tourist attraction, and the real year is 1996. Fish Out of Water: Thrust into the modern world, Jessie must navigate strange inventions like cars and telephones on her desperate mission to find a cure before it’s too late. Brave Girl Protagonist: With time running out for her friends and family, Jessie must face down dangerous enemies and rely on her own courage to save them all. Dystopian Thriller: Perfect for fans of The Giver, this story explores a world of lies and control, where questioning the rules can be deadly.