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Running Out of Time
253 pages
A high-stakes, reality-bending thriller that turns a historical setting into a ticking-clock race for survival.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like having the rug pulled out from under you in the best possible way. It begins with the cozy, slightly claustrophobic atmosphere of a historical frontier tale before snapping into a propulsive, high-stakes thriller. The mood shifts from rustic and familiar to deeply disorienting and paranoid as the protagonist navigates a world she was never meant to see. The prose is sharp and urgent, perfectly matching the ticking-clock tension of a desperate rescue mission. It is a story about the shattering of childhood illusions and the terrifying thrill of discovering the truth. Middle-grade readers who devour mind-bending scenarios, hidden dystopian secrets, and stories of kids outsmarting corrupt adults will find this adventure impossible to put down.
- Mood
- tense
- disorienting
- claustrophobic
- thrilling
- Tone
- earnest
- urgent
- suspenseful
- determined
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- questioning reality · loss of innocence · courage under pressure · betrayal by authority · ethics of observation
- The writing
- Clear, accessible, and action-driven, prioritizing momentum and emotional immediacy over lyrical flourish.
- The arc
- Moves from sheltered certainty to disorienting shock, culminating in desperate, courageous action.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who love high-stakes mysteries, mind-bending scenarios, and protagonists who have to outsmart adults.
Content notes
- child illness
- medical emergencies
- gaslighting
- confinement
About the book
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?
Description from Open Library.
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