Running Out of Time

Rating:
Summary: Fine as fish hair
Review: Margaret Peterson Haddix began her authorial career with the small unobtrusive science fiction story, "Running Out of Time". In this amusing novel, a child raised in a tourism site circa 1840, discovers that in the real world it is actually 1996 and she must find a way to save the children of the town dying of diphtheria. Reading it, I was reminded of an old Reading Rainbow where Levar Burton visits such a town as this and enjoys his stay. I always wanted to live in such a situation and this book captures that feeling. Yet as it is, this isn't a grand sweeping tale. At 184 pages it amuses and entertains while remaining true to the ideas it presents. It is not, however, particularly stunning. There is nothing in this book to say that it is "great" or that greatness will come of it. Haddix likes grand ideas more than details. The idea that the creators of this tourism site wanted to create a new race of (white) humans with the ability to withstand all forms of disease is amusing. But the execution rings sour. If the evil leader of this town meant to eventually phase out the adults but keep the town going, how was he planning on keeping the citizens in it? If the tour guide gives regular showings of the children in school, why doesn't she recognize our heroine in modern dress? Other small details such as this keep the book from being quite as fine as it might be. Though nothing spectacular, this is a droll little read and kids that enjoy the idea of living in the past may take especially to this tale of realistic time traveling. Extra points to Haddix for drawing influence from Conner Prairie and setting the book in Indiana.

Rating:
Summary: Running out of Time
Review: ...Jessie is a girl who is about 12 or 13. She is living in the 1800's in a great place called Clifton-or so she thinks. There are just a few mysteries of Clifton-like why are the children forbidden to go close to most of the mirrors or mirrors are in strange places(how about in-between school desks?). Or when Jessie is little she climbs up a tree to see a mysterious glass object-and get spanked for it? Well one day the children of Clifton start getting a disease called diphtheria that is treatable now but deadly back then. Jessie's mother then reveals a horrible secret-it's really 1996 and Clifton is a historical preserve. Even more horrible-the people in charge of Clifton will no longer bring in modern medicine so the kids could die! Even Jessie's little sister has caught the disease by now. Jessie's mother asks her to do a daring thing-go out and seek help. Jessie accepts but once she gets out there she is clueless. (How clueless you ask? She thinks a school bus is a limousine!)Can Jessie get help before she runs out of time? Another good book by this auther is Just Ella! A must read as well althiugh not as good as Running Out of Time.

Rating:
Summary: Running out of Time
Review: Title: Running out of Time
By: Margaret Peterson Haddix

This was an exciting and unique book, wich I would recommend for readers of all ages (with some exeptions) who enjoy fast pace books with some added suspense.

Imagine yourself a carefree 13 year old girl of the mid 1800's. Or so you think. You live with your family in Clifton Village. Everything is going smoothly, until diphtheria strikes the village, and the children of Clifton start dying. Your mother must reveal a shocking secret to you--while inside Clifton it is 1840, outside it is...1966! She explains that you are living in a historical village, while being watched by tourists. She then sends you on a dangerous mission to go and get help, for outside the walls of Clifton, there is medicine that will cure the the lethal disease.
But beyond the walls of Clifton, you stumble into a world that is more mysterious and alien then you could have been prepared for, and you soon find your own life on the line. Quick! You must hurry if you are going to save the children of Clifton before you run out of time!

Rating:
Summary: An action packed book.
Review: The title of my book is Running Out Of Time by Margaret P. Habbix. It was published in 1995.
The light woke Jessie, though it was just a glimmer downstairs. The main idea of th story was that Jessie had to sneak out of the historic site where she lived. The reason why she had to sneak out is that there was a sickness and they weren't getting the modern day medicine.The exciting is when... Jessie woke to the pale sunlight on her face. Her head hurt.She'd been having a horrifying dream about Roy, Tol, and Mr.Neeley all chasing her in a rusty brown car.
I think others will like this book. It's bassed on a real story, it has action, and it ha a surprised twist in the plot.This story will make you cry, but it will also make you laugh.My rating for this book is ten out of ten.

Rating:
Summary: An action packed book.
Review: The light woke Jessie, though it was just a glimmer downstairs.The main idea of the story was that Jessie had to sneek out of the historic site where she lived. The reson why she had to sneek out is that there was a sickness and they weren't getting modern day madine. An exciting part of the book is when... Jessie woke to pale sunlight on her face. Her head hurt . She'd been having a horrifyin dream about Ray, Tol, and Mr. Neeley all chasing her in a rusty brown car.
I think others will like this book. It's bassed on a real story, it has action, and it has a surprised twist in the plot. This story will make you cry, but it will also make you laugh. My rating for this book is ten out of ten.

Rating:
Summary: Running Out Of Time Seems to Be Doing Just That
Review: The book, Running out Of Time by Margaret Peterson
Haddix, is yet another cute sci-fi book. It was rather unexciting, though the idea was very good. The book is appealing, at first. There were cloudy descriptions of the main characters, and the plot was somewhat inconsistent. The book didnt help me much, leaving me unsatisfied. Also some of the things that the main character Jessie did leave question in my mind, if that was really possibble.
You seem to get to know the characters pretty well,
but not what they look like at all. This was puzzling, so my image of the character, was straight from the front cover. I think that it's better to tell, so you get your own original image. The plot also left me unsatisfied, because it seemed to go here and there. The plot twist with the whole Isaac Neely being evil was interesting, maybe the most suprising thing in the whole book, but still, yet again Jessie got out of it really fast, which seems to be a re-occurring theme in the book. Another thing that my friend pointed out was that the 'see through' mirrors that the tourists could look through, were supposed to be really rare in 1840. So it is un-authentic that they would not have a mirror covering one entire wall. Considering the fact that the parents were not allowed to tell the children that it was really 1996, was because of authenticity, and that does not seem very authentic to me. But even if the mirrors were disguised, the author did not explain it clearly enough for me to comprehend.
Another unfortunate aspect about this book is the bare fact that it was not intresting or helpful in anyway. The beginning was very good, but at the end, it just got boring. Also, this situation seemed very unrealistic to me, I mean, aren't sci-fi books suppost to make sense(from a logical standpoint)? I usually read a book for some personal gain, maybe just that warm fuzzy feeling, like after reading a novel by Andrew Clements, or feeling brave and that I can do anything, like after a great action story. But this book didn't leave me with anything, just some puzzling questions. If there was a sequel, maybe the series would make more sense, and the author would not feel as rushed to get to the end of the story. A well thought out story is usually the best kind. This one was not exactly just that. The overall story seemed to be well planned, but the details left me with some doubt. So the story, for me, was not one just to sit at home just because you want to read it.
Jessie, she's a smart girl right? But would she really be able to adapt to the new technologies so quickly? For most of us, it takes time to learn about new things, and it would be real confusing if we had no idea of where we were going. So my question is, is this really possible? How would she know to get into the bread truck, or how would she even know how to open the doors! Also, some of the 'coincidences' seemed to be a little bit too many. I mean, why would a bread truck even be at Clifton, if all the crops were fine? Also, does a news conference really happen like that? If I called a news company, and said I was doing a news conference on who knows what, would it happen? Even if there was something in the media about Clifton shutting down, would they really listen to a young girl? These are questions that should have been answered in the book, which odviously weren't.
All in all, the book will ether live you feeling maybe a trace of satisfaction, or just many questions. The book has great story, but the details still do leave much to be desired, especially with the character descriptions. The book gives you things to think about, but not always pleasant things to ponder. It leaves me in wonder what exactally was the writer doing, was there some kind of a deadline? What ever it was it left me confused. Its like past tense sci-fi, living in 2003 now, but still seems un-realistic. Never the less, Running out of Time is definatally a debateable read.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: I read this book in a teachers' reading club at the middle school where I teach. We read school library books so as to be able to recommend books to our students. This is a book I have recommended and each student who has read it has been very enthusiastic about it. This, however, is not why I am writing this review. I think this book would make an interesting movie.
If the author is reading this, have you ever considered making it into a movie? Thanks for a good read. Keep up the good work.

Rating:
Summary: Running, Great
Review: I think Running out of Time was a great book. I think there should be a sequel to it. I like the way each chapter ends as a cliffhanger. I like the way the author writes about how she escapes Clifton Village.

Rating:
Summary: the haddix review
Review: i thought this book was one of the best ive ever read its interesting and its so rare i mean i never usally find a book i wanna read over and over again its so cool the way the story all fits together. well you heard my review i hope you agree too!

Rating:
Summary: Simply a classic
Review: This book is Margaret Haddix at her best. Don't let me trick you into thinking that this is her best book: that is Turnabout. But this a superb work of absolute genius.
The plot is fresh and original. It takes shocking turns and tricks you every step of the way. It is a delightful read- fast-paced, exciting, and nerve-racking. I simply couldn't put it down.
The thing that I don't like is that the book cover gives away the main detail of the plot too soon. I don't want to tell you the plot because it'll ruin the book's true experience. DON'T READ BOOK COVERS! THEY BLURT OUT WHAT THE AUTHOR HAS TRIED TO HIDE UNTIL THE END OF THE BOOK!