Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2 reviews

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It's been 15 years since I read this book, and while I remembered some of the big plot points, I picked up on a lot more of the nuanced messages this time around.

What I had once considered a time travel adventure story is actually much darker. Jessie, the main character, grows up in a cult based around around beliefs and life styles of the 1840s. It isn't until the people running the show--literally, the cult is on display to the public--introduce diphtheria to the tiny town that Jessie's "ma" decides that action needs to be taken.

Cue Jessie on a journey of modernity: 1840 --> 1996.

The main message of the story is what happens when anti-vaxxers and fake news mongers are revealed to be what they truly are. It is a cautionary tale that uncomfortably lines up with where we are as a nation in 2021.
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flordemaga's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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