Books like Running Out of Time

If you liked Running Out of Time, read Ella Enchanted, Nightmare Mountain, or Closed for the Season — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Fantasy · grades 3–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of adventure and adventurers, fiction, diphtheria, and mystery and detective stories. The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 3–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Running Out of Time

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Why each is a match

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Ella Enchantedgrades 4–7
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Nightmare Mountaingrades 3–6
Shares themes of adventure and adventurers, fiction and mystery and detective stories and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Closed for the Seasongrades 3–8
Shares themes of mystery and detective stories, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Eragongrades 6–9
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotismgrades 3–8
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Peter and the Starcatchersgrades 3–8
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
The Indian in the Cupboardgrades 3–6
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
The Liftersgrades 3–8
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulanegrades 3–6
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
The Red Pyramidgrades 3–8
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →

Books like Running Out of Time for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • Word Eater by Mary Amato · grades 3–8 — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling · grades 4–8 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1990s).
  • Something Big Has Been Here by Jack Prelutsky · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Tarot Says Beware by Betsy Cromer Byars · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like Running Out of Time for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • Word Eater by Mary Amato · grades 3–8 — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling · grades 4–8 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1990s).
  • Tarot Says Beware by Betsy Cromer Byars · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Terror at the Zoo by Peg Kehret · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Running Out of Time for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

  • A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Fantasy).
  • The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (5–9).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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