What grade level is Running Out of Time?

Running Out of Time is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–8. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Running Out of Time?

It takes about 3h 30m to read Running Out of Time (192 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 210 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Running Out of Time banned in schools?

Running Out of Time does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does Running Out of Time explore?

Central themes in Running Out of Time include adventure and adventurers, fiction, diphtheria, mystery and detective stories, indiana, fiction. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Running Out of Time

Name: Running Out of Time
Availability: InStock
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
ISBN: 9780807280324

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

On reading-award lists:Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix is assigned in US schools at grades 3–8. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Running Out of Time is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Listen free on Audible30-day trial Buy on Amazon

Audible trial: new members only. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Grade range: Grades 3–8
Age range: Ages 8–13
Pages: 192
Reading time: about 3h 30m (est.)
First published: 1995
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN-13: 9780807280324

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this 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.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Running Out of Time→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Fantasy title, typically at grades 3–8. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on adventure and adventurers, fiction and diphtheria; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

adventure and adventurers, fiction · diphtheria · mystery and detective stories · indiana, fiction

Where this book is assigned

Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award

Was this page helpful?

Common questions

What grade level is Running Out of Time?: Running Out of Time is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–8. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read Running Out of Time?: It takes about 3h 30m to read Running Out of Time (192 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 210 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Running Out of Time?: Running Out of Time appears on reading lists for Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Running Out of Time banned in schools?: Running Out of Time does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does Running Out of Time explore?: Central themes in Running Out of Time include adventure and adventurers, fiction, diphtheria, mystery and detective stories, indiana, fiction. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure: Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band: Grades 3–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.