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Running Out of Time
I can steal time.
The most I can take at the moment is fifteen seconds, which is not a lot. Grandmother took almost three minutes once and she told me she’s done more, but I never saw it.
She says there are stories of someone who can take all the time in the world, but how can that be right?
When Alex and his father are forced to flee their home to escape a brutal government, they begin a life-threatening journey across Europe. But when they are separated before they can reach Britain, Alex finds himself alone, with only his extraordinary gift to keep him alive.
Perfect for fans of Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl, and Inception, Running out of Time is an ingenious, high-concept thriller with a twist that you won’t believe.
The most I can take at the moment is fifteen seconds, which is not a lot. Grandmother took almost three minutes once and she told me she’s done more, but I never saw it.
She says there are stories of someone who can take all the time in the world, but how can that be right?
When Alex and his father are forced to flee their home to escape a brutal government, they begin a life-threatening journey across Europe. But when they are separated before they can reach Britain, Alex finds himself alone, with only his extraordinary gift to keep him alive.
Perfect for fans of Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl, and Inception, Running out of Time is an ingenious, high-concept thriller with a twist that you won’t believe.
- GenresMiddle GradeFiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2022
2 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 26, 2023
This was recommended as a read aloud and I can see how that would work because it could take some kids a bit to get their heads around. Very interesting concept of being able to take one course of action then wind back and choose another once unforeseen obstacles become apparent and better choices arise. Based current day in an unnamed country but seemingly eastern block, where the government is taking similar steps to a Holocaust, marginalising and disappearing certain groups of society, sending hordes of people to the borders trying to escape across Europe and the sea to the UK. There are quite realistic scenes of people hiding away in a shipping container and on the back of a truck and in too-small boats, and then some dodgy business in the UK to try and catch up with his Dad. Finished well and plenty of dangerous action, you accept the time bending concept as you read and I think this fits better with spy/action readers rather than science fiction. Age 10+
September 2, 2021
Wow. This should be a must-read for everyone. Such an emotive book. Just wow. There is so much of value in here - it's far more than just a clever book about stealing time and good over evil. This is a good insight into what it might be like to be a refugee. What are they escaping from, why are they so desperate, how have they travelled to get where they are, who have they left behind? I cried.
August 3, 2022
There is a growing (and very welcome) market for books which expose the true plight of refugees, helping to explain to young readers a little of the world's dire political situation. The Boy at the Back of the Class and Boy, Everywhere spring immediately to mind, and some of these books (like Boy, Everywhere) handle the topic with insight and leave you changed in their wake.
Running Out of Time uses the unique conceit of sort-of time travel to tell its story, with two alternating timelines running through the course of the novel. It's executed perfectly, and gives younger a readers a narrative structure they perhaps won't have encountered before. I loved that about it. I also loved the unmistakably Quantum Leap-inspired graphic design, which on the proof amounts to just the lettering, but on the trade paperback consumes the entire cover. Glorious, and (obviously) very fitting.
But what I loved most of all was that the sort-of time travel element served the story without being the story. In the same way that we just accept that synthetic life exists in Troofriend, and that otherworldly flippery beings are just a staple in Eerie-on-Sea, Aleksander's family can set anchor points which allow them to live events, but return back if things go awry: like the restart points in a video game (or, to a lesser degree, the £1000 and £32,000 guarantee intervals in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). No explanation. You just have to accept it. It's one of the things I love most about Middle Grade literature.
Running Out of Time is a story about trust and hope, but most important of all it brings things out into the open that, because they're happening so far away, we tend to lose sight of. The uncomfortable truth about Running Out of Time is that (sort-of time travel aside) it's a true story. It's probably a true story many, many times over. There are countless children like Aleksander Sviatoslav. And, just as there is no explanation for Aleksander's gift, the book can offer no explanation for man's inhumanity to man. The boat-boarding scene in Chapter 28 ("After") is especially heart-wrenching. In the Afterword, the author plays down the fact that the book is about the lives of refugees. I think he's doing himself a disservice. This is very much a book about the lives of refugees, and it's one that tackles a challenging issue senstively and with real heart. It belongs in the classroom, not just because it's a super story, but also because it carries an important lesson along with it.
Running Out of Time uses the unique conceit of sort-of time travel to tell its story, with two alternating timelines running through the course of the novel. It's executed perfectly, and gives younger a readers a narrative structure they perhaps won't have encountered before. I loved that about it. I also loved the unmistakably Quantum Leap-inspired graphic design, which on the proof amounts to just the lettering, but on the trade paperback consumes the entire cover. Glorious, and (obviously) very fitting.
But what I loved most of all was that the sort-of time travel element served the story without being the story. In the same way that we just accept that synthetic life exists in Troofriend, and that otherworldly flippery beings are just a staple in Eerie-on-Sea, Aleksander's family can set anchor points which allow them to live events, but return back if things go awry: like the restart points in a video game (or, to a lesser degree, the £1000 and £32,000 guarantee intervals in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). No explanation. You just have to accept it. It's one of the things I love most about Middle Grade literature.
Running Out of Time is a story about trust and hope, but most important of all it brings things out into the open that, because they're happening so far away, we tend to lose sight of. The uncomfortable truth about Running Out of Time is that (sort-of time travel aside) it's a true story. It's probably a true story many, many times over. There are countless children like Aleksander Sviatoslav. And, just as there is no explanation for Aleksander's gift, the book can offer no explanation for man's inhumanity to man. The boat-boarding scene in Chapter 28 ("After") is especially heart-wrenching. In the Afterword, the author plays down the fact that the book is about the lives of refugees. I think he's doing himself a disservice. This is very much a book about the lives of refugees, and it's one that tackles a challenging issue senstively and with real heart. It belongs in the classroom, not just because it's a super story, but also because it carries an important lesson along with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2022
Thank you for @nosycrow and @netgalley for allowing me to review this book.
Stars 4⭐️
Running out of time was a edge of your seat scientific thriller which has the concept of people being able to look into time to see the possible outcomes in the backdrop of being a refugee. This book explores the relationships with families and how it can have an impact as well as your life before and after. I found this book really emotional and making me want to read on. Children will love how this delves in both very hard hitting things but it gives the thriller vibes.
The first chapter particularly got me at the end when it spoke about how time is precious and how the main character never took enough. I felt this as an adult we all have times as we grow how we wish we had more time for something and I feel this backdropped the book perfectly. I cannot wait to read more about Simon fox as his writing style really intrigued me and now I want to read more.
If you are looking for a sci-fi which gives you the thriller vibes in a middlegrade form this is the book that you need.
Stars 4⭐️
Running out of time was a edge of your seat scientific thriller which has the concept of people being able to look into time to see the possible outcomes in the backdrop of being a refugee. This book explores the relationships with families and how it can have an impact as well as your life before and after. I found this book really emotional and making me want to read on. Children will love how this delves in both very hard hitting things but it gives the thriller vibes.
The first chapter particularly got me at the end when it spoke about how time is precious and how the main character never took enough. I felt this as an adult we all have times as we grow how we wish we had more time for something and I feel this backdropped the book perfectly. I cannot wait to read more about Simon fox as his writing style really intrigued me and now I want to read more.
If you are looking for a sci-fi which gives you the thriller vibes in a middlegrade form this is the book that you need.
September 12, 2022
Alexander has a super-power kind of ability, where he can freeze time and see it play out in his mind instead – gaining the advantage of looking into the near future without anyone else being cognizant of it. That way he can clearly earn a living in moments at the roulette table, and on the stock exchange, but this is him as a fourteen year old, and such things are second to where he is now. For he’s being asked to work for some illegal people smugglers turned illegal traders, and in such a situation his ability is pretty much only a party trick, for the truth is he can only see the next fifteen or so seconds of his life before his predictions of the laws of the universe run out of time.
That said, in this young teen thriller, Alexander has also crossed into Europe, travelled across it, and left it for the UK. And had his life saved at least once due to his skills. This creates an instant problem for the readability of the book – that one half of it is showing the risk it might cause him in the here and now, while every alternating chapter speeds us back to his flight to Britain, where his father is hoping to reunite with some whistle-blowing dissident information regarding their (unnamed) home country. In other words, half the chapters take the peril out of the other half, by saying he survived, and said other half show the talent of the lad to be more than enough for almost any danger.
However, the book does its damnedest to get over that handicap – and just about achieves this. It has to put Alexander and a new friend (of sorts) into a lot of more mature peril than is realistic, to make us wonder if the skill is going to be enough, but principally what it manages is enough of a page-turning quality to make us not sit and think of all the issues the twin timeline format raises. Ultimately I think there is a mahoosive timey-wimey nit-pick (or plain plot hole, if you like) come the finish, but really the book is so energetic it can almost leap that hurdle too. It’s highly cinematic too, and I could easily see the visual version of the narrative’s italic sections, where we are in the potential future for the brief spells allowed. My personal taste would not have it focused around English Channel trafficking, with all the scope for woke bleating that allows, but really such contemporary issues are second to the fact that any young audience, say, twelve year olds, at any time, would have seen more than enough drama and grit and surprise on these pages to rate it really highly.
That said, in this young teen thriller, Alexander has also crossed into Europe, travelled across it, and left it for the UK. And had his life saved at least once due to his skills. This creates an instant problem for the readability of the book – that one half of it is showing the risk it might cause him in the here and now, while every alternating chapter speeds us back to his flight to Britain, where his father is hoping to reunite with some whistle-blowing dissident information regarding their (unnamed) home country. In other words, half the chapters take the peril out of the other half, by saying he survived, and said other half show the talent of the lad to be more than enough for almost any danger.
However, the book does its damnedest to get over that handicap – and just about achieves this. It has to put Alexander and a new friend (of sorts) into a lot of more mature peril than is realistic, to make us wonder if the skill is going to be enough, but principally what it manages is enough of a page-turning quality to make us not sit and think of all the issues the twin timeline format raises. Ultimately I think there is a mahoosive timey-wimey nit-pick (or plain plot hole, if you like) come the finish, but really the book is so energetic it can almost leap that hurdle too. It’s highly cinematic too, and I could easily see the visual version of the narrative’s italic sections, where we are in the potential future for the brief spells allowed. My personal taste would not have it focused around English Channel trafficking, with all the scope for woke bleating that allows, but really such contemporary issues are second to the fact that any young audience, say, twelve year olds, at any time, would have seen more than enough drama and grit and surprise on these pages to rate it really highly.
August 27, 2023
This story follows Aleksander, a refugee from Europe trying to find safety in England. However, Aleksander has a superpower. He can freeze time and play out how his actions are able to change the future. This helps him escape constant danger as he travels with his dad through Europe. Aleksander's dad was a postman, but his safety was in danger after he stole government documents to enlighten the world to the war in their country. The story is fast-paced and action packed, making it a quick page turner.
"They are not from where I am from, but we are all black shadows, desperate and scared. The motor rips across the sound of the sea and forces the boat hard into the waves. We hit the water and our bodies lurch forward. Hands grab for something to hold, but there are only soft, breakable bodies. A moan rises up from around me.
But there are no words."
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Many more childrens books are showing the reality and traumas of refugees. However, the fast paced action made me connect less to the character of Aleksander. Some of the action also felt a bit unrealistic and far fetched, but for a children's book this is understandable. I think some of Aleksanders character growth was lost in the action, and could've been developed further.
"We work hard and keep going," Dad said, as if he could read my mind. "And every day we should remember those that we left behind."
The stories of refugees are evermore important in our current refugee crisis. In general, a good children's read.
"They are not from where I am from, but we are all black shadows, desperate and scared. The motor rips across the sound of the sea and forces the boat hard into the waves. We hit the water and our bodies lurch forward. Hands grab for something to hold, but there are only soft, breakable bodies. A moan rises up from around me.
But there are no words."
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Many more childrens books are showing the reality and traumas of refugees. However, the fast paced action made me connect less to the character of Aleksander. Some of the action also felt a bit unrealistic and far fetched, but for a children's book this is understandable. I think some of Aleksanders character growth was lost in the action, and could've been developed further.
"We work hard and keep going," Dad said, as if he could read my mind. "And every day we should remember those that we left behind."
The stories of refugees are evermore important in our current refugee crisis. In general, a good children's read.
August 23, 2023
A wonderful science fiction thriller for upper MG readers (9-14yrs I’d say).
Aleksander’s country has fallen under a fascist regime and his father has been covertly gathering evidence of government atrocities to smuggle out to the rest of the world to inform them of what is happening. When his underground activities are discovered by the authorities, Aleks and his dad must flee their country and head for the safety of English shores. All seems futile, except Aleks has a secret. He can manipulate time, allowing him to see how future events evolve, and can intervene to change the outcome. However, as Aleks discovers, this can be both a blessing and a curse.
Action packed and gripping, the story moves along at a pace which keeps the excitement alive. The characters, their motivations and their actions are considerately and sensitively portrayed. I’m always intrigued when authors provide a backstory for characters, explaining why they act the way do.
Themes of fate, individual responsibility, loyalty, family bonds and trust run throughout the novel, all set against the backdrop of people smuggling and the exploitation of refugees. I thought this subject was treated with just the right amount of depth and detail for the target audience and was presented without judgement. Not an easy balance to achieve, I would imagine.
Aleksander’s country has fallen under a fascist regime and his father has been covertly gathering evidence of government atrocities to smuggle out to the rest of the world to inform them of what is happening. When his underground activities are discovered by the authorities, Aleks and his dad must flee their country and head for the safety of English shores. All seems futile, except Aleks has a secret. He can manipulate time, allowing him to see how future events evolve, and can intervene to change the outcome. However, as Aleks discovers, this can be both a blessing and a curse.
Action packed and gripping, the story moves along at a pace which keeps the excitement alive. The characters, their motivations and their actions are considerately and sensitively portrayed. I’m always intrigued when authors provide a backstory for characters, explaining why they act the way do.
Themes of fate, individual responsibility, loyalty, family bonds and trust run throughout the novel, all set against the backdrop of people smuggling and the exploitation of refugees. I thought this subject was treated with just the right amount of depth and detail for the target audience and was presented without judgement. Not an easy balance to achieve, I would imagine.
May 17, 2025
Running Out of Time is a book that will keep the reader on edge, with chapters filled with intrigue and suspense as we move rather that set dates but ‘before’ and ‘after’ which I think was a clever way of ensuring that readers who are the designated age-range (middle-grade) may struggle to recall the when whilst remembering everything else that’s going on.
The concept of the story was a fascinating one and wove together aspects that are futuristic and perhaps could be classed as sci-fi with a very real present day issue of trafficking people, and whilst it’s definitely an often mature topic? Bringing it into a children’s book is also a clever concept - it provides the reader with an idea of what can happen to someone, and I think also aids in understanding the idea of appreciating people as a whole.
I liked how the author wrote the story, making places and events come to life with immersive world-building and building up suspense through dialect and events that affect not just the main character but all those we encounter. I saw someone say it was a blend of a futuristic world mixed with the chaotic and often suspense filled moments of the Mission Impossible movies and that seems perfect to me because you’re constantly wondering what will go wrong, what will changing one thing cause for a person or event regardless of the ‘when and where’ it occurs.
The concept of the story was a fascinating one and wove together aspects that are futuristic and perhaps could be classed as sci-fi with a very real present day issue of trafficking people, and whilst it’s definitely an often mature topic? Bringing it into a children’s book is also a clever concept - it provides the reader with an idea of what can happen to someone, and I think also aids in understanding the idea of appreciating people as a whole.
I liked how the author wrote the story, making places and events come to life with immersive world-building and building up suspense through dialect and events that affect not just the main character but all those we encounter. I saw someone say it was a blend of a futuristic world mixed with the chaotic and often suspense filled moments of the Mission Impossible movies and that seems perfect to me because you’re constantly wondering what will go wrong, what will changing one thing cause for a person or event regardless of the ‘when and where’ it occurs.
Read
November 19, 2022When Alex and his Father are forced to flee their home to escape a brutal Government, they begin a life-threatening journey across Europe. But when they are separated before they can reach Britain, Alex finds himself alone, with only his extraordinary gift to keep him alive. However luckily this gift allows him to avoid dangerous situations.
A very thought provoking book that covers the perils faced by refugees and human trafficking.
A insight in to human exploitation whilst trying to travel to the safety of another country.
A book that would throw up plenty of opportunities for discussions with children.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.
A very thought provoking book that covers the perils faced by refugees and human trafficking.
A insight in to human exploitation whilst trying to travel to the safety of another country.
A book that would throw up plenty of opportunities for discussions with children.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.
October 6, 2022
Alex's dad has evidence to prove to the world that his country is governed by a brutal regime and they are trying to escape along with several other refugees. However, Alex has a gift, he is able to see into the future, only for a few seconds at a time, but it's enough for him to ascertain possible danger and the best path for them to follow. But they are being pursued, Alex finds himself alone and has no idea who to trust.
Gripping adventure with lots of action but that also has a serious message about refugees and people trafficking. Suitable for MG 10+ readers.
Gripping adventure with lots of action but that also has a serious message about refugees and people trafficking. Suitable for MG 10+ readers.
June 29, 2025
Jag trodde jag skulle läsa en andra världskriget barnbok (för den tipsades om i en rad av sådana), så det blev en överraskning när huvudpersonen tappade "sin telefon"... Men inte en dålig överraskning. Fox försöker sig på nån parallell-historia till tidigare (eller nuvarande) fascistiska stater, med inslag av lite magi/sci fi.
I början stör jag mig på att det känns platt och outvecklat - men det var också länge sedan jag läste en barnbok (och de är ju mindre komplexa av en anledning). Och det tar sig med tiden (sic!).
Slutet är bra (vilket inte alla vuxenböcker kan skryta med)!
I början stör jag mig på att det känns platt och outvecklat - men det var också länge sedan jag läste en barnbok (och de är ju mindre komplexa av en anledning). Och det tar sig med tiden (sic!).
Slutet är bra (vilket inte alla vuxenböcker kan skryta med)!
August 17, 2022
If this book was about a refugees’ journey alone, it would be a strong and timely read. But Alex was born with a unique ability and the added element of “stealing time”; taking those few seconds from the future and witnessing their outcome, makes it much more than that. We see Alex in conflict much of the time; conflict with his father, between right and wrong, between the authorities and a criminal underworld…and within himself. His ability to “steal time” is his only weapon, but he’s never sure what it will bring and how he will be able to live with the results. Alex is limited as to how much time he can “take,” which makes the outcome tenuous at best. And…he isn’t really sure how it works, exactly. Those around him don’t know what he’s doing…and they don’t quite trust him. But they know they can use him…and he’s just a kid. This makes for a dramatic, tense read. We would all like to see the future and to make those little tweaks that causes fate to always smile on us. But the ethics embedded in the story cause us to question our true motivation. There is an unexpected twist at the end, bringing a “wow” moment that hits with surprise and relief. With nail-biting action, atmospheric description and exacting characterisation, it asks as many questions as it answers. Running Out of Time is thrilling, absorbing and gripping; an extraordinary, superb read.
April 11, 2025
This was a book buzz choice and I’ve been putting off reading it because the first few pages were a bit confusing and I wasn’t sue I was interested enough to persevere. I’m glad I did, though, because it was a good story about people smuggling and the choices people fleeing war are sometimes forced to make. You don’t know which country Alex and his Dad are running from, but their situation is totally believable. The fact that Alex has an extraordinary skill of seeing a few seconds into the future does test the limits of realism, but it adds to the adventure and there’s a great twist in the tale that took me by surprise.
July 2, 2023
A fabulous debut science fiction thriller for young adult readers 10+ years from Simon Fox.
He writes with powerful words & creates multiple opportunities for suspense cleverly entwined through time. A fabulous read to educate us all on the real life dangers that refugees take in the hope & promise for freedom.
He writes with powerful words & creates multiple opportunities for suspense cleverly entwined through time. A fabulous read to educate us all on the real life dangers that refugees take in the hope & promise for freedom.
November 21, 2022
Exciting sci-fi page turner which moves forward and backwards in a race against time to save family and friends from unscrupulous people traffickers. Very visual and could see it being filmed, like a cross between Mission Impossible and Groundhog Day.
March 26, 2023
Read this book as the leader of my KS3 book club. We are working through the shortlists for Spellbinding Cumbria.
I found this book particularly difficult to get into for the first 50ish pages. The time changes and different plots are hard to follow.
I found this book particularly difficult to get into for the first 50ish pages. The time changes and different plots are hard to follow.
August 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The twists on the way through were engaging and the chapters beginning with 'before' and 'after' rather than dates and times, which I never remember, worked brilliantly!
February 11, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
September 21, 2024
This was an enjoyable read, rather hard to follow at times but THE TWIST oh my goodness it was a shock!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2024
Gift from my son's school, year 7, read it with him. Good insight to refugees but a bit obvious.
April 7, 2025
3.5 Stars - same concept I have seen in movies and other books, but it was a good read…
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews