Alex has a gift that only his father and his grandmother know about: he can steal time which means that he can see what will happen in the future. So far he can only manage 15 seconds but he has been told that his grandmother once managed to steal 15 minutes. As things become difficult in Alex's home country, he and his father are forced to flee, leaving his grandmother behind. The journey is a difficult one with Alex and his father becoming separated as they arrives in England. It's now up to Alex to find his way in this new country and to find his father without ending up on the wrong side of the people smugglers.
Told in duel narrative, the chapters switch between 'before' which reveals Alex's story with his father as they flee, and 'after' which sees us follow Alex's journey in England. As he comes to terms with being alone in a country he doesn't know, with no money and nowhere to stay, he begins to steal time to help him but is it enough?
Alex is a brilliant character whose unique ability could be seen as a blessing or a curse and not one I am certain I would want. He is alone in a country where he knows no one and is terrified of what has happened to his father. Although he has a difficult relationship with his father, he is clearly desperate to find him. He is also struggling with the idea of having left his grandma behind - he has a lot going on and needs to learn who to trust which is where is gift comes in, but he can only steal a few seconds which, in itself, causes problems.
The story is a fast-paced sci-fi and the duel narrative will ensure that you cannot put the book down (I even read it during the women's football final last night I was that gripped!). Running Out Of Time is a book that shows the best and the worst of people, it highlights the plight of people fleeing their country and their treatment at the hands of people smugglers, but it is also a book with full of hope. As the story came to a close, I was genuinely surprised by the ending and I know that this is a book that will be in demand with my Year 6 class next term.
Due for release on the 4th August, Running Out Of Time comes highly recommended by me.
No comments:
Post a Comment