Books like Running Out of Time

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

Closest match: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Get it on Amazon →

Affiliate link: as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Ella Enchantedgrades 4–7
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Among the Hiddengrades 5–8
Is by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the same author, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Nightmare Mountaingrades 3–6
Shares themes of adventure and adventurers, fiction and mystery and detective stories and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Finegrades 3–5
Shares themes of mystery and detective stories, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Fantasy). Amazon → books like this →
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatchergrades 4–6
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Foundgrades 4–6
Is by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the same author and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotismgrades 3–8
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Peter and the Starcatchersgrades 3–8
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Indian in the Cupboardgrades 3–6
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Liftersgrades 3–8
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Running Out of Time for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

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

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

  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan · grades 3–8 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Word Eater by Mary Amato · grades 3–8 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • The Name of the Game Was Murder by Joan Lowery Nixon · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, 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.

  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan · grades 3–8 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Word Eater by Mary Amato · grades 3–8 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • The Name of the Game Was Murder by Joan Lowery Nixon · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Is by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the same author, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).

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.

  • Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Is by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the same author, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Lore by Alexandra Bracken · grades 9–12 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list and same genre (Fantasy).
  • Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories and both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list.
  • One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories and both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list.
  • The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of mystery and detective stories and both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list.

Common questions

What books are similar to Running Out of Time?
The 10 closest matches to Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix on ReadingList include Ella Enchanted, Among the Hidden, Nightmare Mountain, The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine, and Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. Each is scored on shared themes (adventure and adventurers, fiction, diphtheria, and mystery and detective stories), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Running Out of Time reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–8), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?
Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to Running Out of Time

Browse by another angle

Find ReadingList in your Google results more often: