Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Middle Grade. 184 Pages. 4 Stars
Synopsis:
Jessie lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton, Indiana. When diphtheria strikes the village and the children of Clifton start dying, Jessie’s mother sends her on a dangerous mission to bring back help. But beyond the walls of Clifton, Jessie discovers a world even more alien and threatening than she could have imagined, and soon she finds her own life in jeopardy. Can she get help before the children of Clifton, and Jessie herself, run out of time?
My Review:
Haddix is one of my very favorite authors, and I have quite delighted in rereading some of the books of hers I loved so much as a kid. I don’t remember this one ever being my favorite, but I saw she recently put out a companion novel, so of course, what better opportunity to reread this one. And I really, really enjoyed it (again)!
Jessie Keyser is such a neat character, set in a (now) nostalgic world, with that classic Haddix page-turning plot. Reading this as an adult was kind of cool. As a kid, I took for granted the payphones and 90s culture, but to see bits of it shine through here from the perspective of a girl who has no idea how to navigate the 90s was surprisingly satisfying. Though I’ve read the book before, there were moments my heart still beat fast and I couldn’t help but think “don’t DO that!” I loved seeing the simplicity of Jessie’s world and of my own past, which was so foreign to her.
Speaking of, I love Jessie’s heart and courage! That girl cares deeply about her community and she’s scrappy. I love how resourceful she is and it was fun to watch her think quickly on her feet, puzzle out challenges, and also still be a kid enough to deal with the grief and reconcile with what she learned. She’s a fighter who puts others above her own safety, but she’s also still just a kid who’s been thrust into an incredible adventure. Haddix expertly balances Jessie’s experience and youth and personality. She’s a memorable character, and I was delighted to be reacquainted with her. (Also, it’s not easy to keep an audience’s attention with a single character for a large portion of a story like this! Really well done!)
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Haddix book review without taking a moment to dwell on the suspense, the pacing, the epic twists and turns! Ah, THIS is why I was addicted to her books as a kid, own over 30 of them, and still read them again and again to this day. Haddix is a masterful storyteller, and this book is no exception. Haddix’s books kept me up many a night. Her short chapters and cliff hangers keep you turning pages, but also, the plot itself is engaging turn after turn. I love the predicaments and situations she puts her characters in. Just when you think you have it all figured out, she whacks you with yet another twist.
I love many of Haddix’s books, and for many years this one has been easy to overlook and forget, but don’t let this one fall to the middle of your list. It’s a great read, quick, and one that you can find new things in with rereads. Also, the audio narration was well done, too.
Content: no swearing, no romance (a brief scene with a few teen boys who were obviously trying to convince Jessie to go with them), no graphic violence (there are bad guys in the race against time to save her community), totally suitable for middle grade readers and preteens.
More
Book 1 in the Out of Time series is Running Out of Time (4 Stars)
Book 2 is Falling Out of Time (4 Stars)
Falling Out of Time is a companion novel, but it should be read after Running Out of Time. Check out the links for more info on Goodreads, and stay tuned to see my thoughts on the companion novel soon!
On GraceBought
If you liked this story, you may also like these books by Haddix:
Among the Hidden and Falling Out of Time