Alex can steal time.

The most he can take at the moment is fifteen seconds, which is not a lot. His grandmother took almost three minutes once, and she told him she's done more, but he never saw it.

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.