Running Out of Time
Jessie lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton, Indiana, in 1840 -- or so she believes. When diphtheria strikes the village and the children of Clifton start dying, Jessie's mother reveals a shocking secret -- it's actually 1996, and they are living in a reconstructed village that serves as a tourist site. In the world outside, medicine exists that can cure the dread disease, and Jessie's mother is sending 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?
Themes & atmosphere
What you might want to know about Running Out of Time
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Jessie Keyser believes she lives in 1840 Indiana until her mother tells her the village is actually a 1996 historical preserve and a diphtheria outbreak is real. Jessie has to slip past the wall and find help outside.
Running Out of Time is middle grade, recommended for readers 9 to 12. The premise of a girl in 1840 who learns her village is actually a present-day living-history exhibit has been a classroom favorite for decades.
Running Out of Time was written by Margaret Peterson Haddix and published in 1995. Haddix also wrote the popular Shadow Children series and the Missing series.
Running Out of Time is 192 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Running Out of Time takes most readers 3 to 4 hours to finish.
Running Out of Time is a standalone novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix, not part of a series.
Running Out of Time is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.