– Jump down to the spoiler-free summaries. –
Are you curious if this series is right for your child? Are you a homeschooling family looking for well-written historical fiction? Or are you simply looking to add to your living books collection? I am so pleased to respond to each of those needs today! Let’s dive in…
What’s This Series All About?
A lovable and smart golden retriever stands in the spotlight in each of these books. Ranger is a trained rescue dog living in modern day USA and is sometimes whisked away back in time to help someone in need. His travels are across multiple continents and happen during a wide variety of historical periods–from Ancient Rome to the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe! He’s able to use his skills in a variety of ways and most often finds himself helping children.
What is the Age Recommendation for Ranger in Time?
My safe answer is ages 9-12, but there’s a good chance some of you have readers who can handle its content at younger ages. If you look at my individual reviews for each of the twelve books, sometimes my age suggestions change. Scroll down for summaries and links.
Do the Ranger in Time Books Need to Be Read in Order?
This is a great question! For the most part, no. Each book could definitely stand alone and be read apart from the others. There are occasional references to previous books, but these moments are quite brief. I personally usually choose publication order when reading a new-to-me series, because that’s typically how the author intended them to be read. Consider at least reading the first one to learn how Ranger started traveling back in time, but that’s not even a must. The order is up to you. Here is how they were published:
- Rescue on the Oregon Trail
- Danger in Ancient Rome
- Long Road to Freedom
- Race to the South Pole
- Journey Through Ash and Smoke
- Escape from the Great Earthquake
- D-Day: Battle on the Beach
- Hurricane Katrina Rescue
- Disaster on the Titanic
- Night of Soldiers and Spies
- Escape from the Twin Towers
- Attack on Pearl Harbor
How Long Are the Books?
Each is a fairly short chapter book with 14-16 chapters, plus what is practically an entire bonus chapter if the Author’s Note is read (which it should be, because every single one of them is so neat!). I wouldn’t consider them to be bridge books but one level above those. They’re very easy to read for the intended age group–it’s just the content you’ll want to make sure your child is ready for.
Are There Audiobook Versions?
I have not seen any professional recordings of the Ranger in Time series by Kate Messner. If they ever cross my bookish paths, I’ll definitely update this section of the Guide.
What Are the Settings for Ranger in Time?
The author has us traveling all over the place–it’s great! Here is where each book is generally set:
- the Oregon Trail (from MO to OR)
- Ancient Rome
- Maryland, USA
- New Zealand, Antarctica
- Iceland
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Normandy Beach, France
- Louisiana
- Ireland, Atlantic Ocean
- New York, USA (1700s)
- New York, USA (2000s)
- Hawaii, USA
Free Resources for Ranger Readers
If you’re just about to depart on your first adventure with Ranger, see if these free printables might be a help to you or your reader (1-click downloads):
- Book summaries for all 12 books
- A map & timeline for visualizing the settings
- A tracker sheet to record ratings & notes for each book read
These will always be available on the main Printables page if you want to find them later.
Spoiler-Free Book Summaries of the Ranger in Time Series
Now for summaries of each of the 12 books! They will link to their full reviews (giving more details and conversation points), but rest assured: any significant spoiler will be warned about.
Book 1: Rescue on the Oregon Trail
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, travels back in time to the mid 1800s. He joins a family who is traveling to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The journey holds many difficulties, and Ranger finds ways to help his new friends. His experiences mirror true accounts of travelers who experienced the cross-country Oregon Trail of the historical USA.
Book 2: Danger in Ancient Rome
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, travels back in time to Ancient Rome and finds himself the companion of a slave who serves the gladiators. Tension rises as readers connect with one of the gladiators who is being forced to fight to the death in the infamous Colosseum arena. Meanwhile, a large fire sweeps across town!
Book 3: Long Road to Freedom
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, meets up with sibling slaves who are running away from their Maryland plantation. The chase is on as they are pursued. With help from Ranger and adults they meet along the way, the two narrowly escape capture several times. Will they find safety in the end?
Book 4: Race to the South Pole
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, befriends a boy from New Zealand who had stowed away on a ship. Once discovered, the boy and Ranger officially join the team of scientists and explorers who are determined to be the first to reach the South Pole. Many perils and near-death experiences await them in the unpredictable behavior of the ice and snow.
Book 5: Journey Through Ash and Smoke
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, travels back in time to the Viking age and soon attaches himself to a young girl. She has a tough job ahead of her to find her father before the nearby volcano erupts! Ranger is able to help the girl out of multiple difficulties they encounter on the journey.
Book 6: Escape From the Great Earthquake
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, finds himself in the midst of chaos as San Francisco is hit by a gigantic earthquake. He is able to help a number of people, particularly from the part of town in which Chinese immigrants live. Segregation and discrimination are gently introduced to young readers.
Book 7: D-Day: Battle on the Beach
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, suddenly discovers himself in the midst of a fierce battle on France’s Normandy Beach. The scene is full of soldiers, deafening noises, and suspense. Fortunately for a few people, including a young Jewish boy, Ranger is able to help in various ways before traveling back home.
Book 8: Hurricane Katrina Rescue
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, befriends a girl whose town was just hit by a massive hurricane. He helps her through many close calls as she inches toward safety in her small boat. They pass so much destruction as they move through the dangerously dirty waters but are also able to help a few others along the way.
Book 9: Disaster on the Titanic
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, gives readers a unique glimpse into the Titanic catastrophe in the early 1900s. His time traveling brings him to new friends on board the already-sailing ship. Through his expert training, he is able to save some lives before readers witness the sinking of the ship!
Book 10: Night of Soldiers and Spies
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, is greeted by the bitter cold of December when he travels to 1776. He meets up with soldiers planning a Christmas attack on the enemy, but first they must get to the other side of the icy river–a difficult task! His human friend is a trained mariner and, together, they help transport men, horses, and weapons.
Book 11: Escape from the Twin Towers
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, discovers two fifth-graders who are career-shadowing at the World Trade Center in September 2001. They, with the throngs of others, make their way down the long stairwells. It’s a chaotic and scary time, but Ranger is able to keep them alive and bring them to safety in the end.
Book 12: Attack on Pearl Harbor
– Full review –
– Buy it! –
Ranger, a trained rescue dog, suddenly finds himself in the midst of a wartime attack. The enemy planes keep coming! He and his new sailor friend are blasted off their battleship and into the sea when a bomb hits. With the help of young Japanese-American children, Ranger is able to save lives and bring comfort.
Final Thoughts
The historical fiction series, Ranger in Time, has truly been a delight to experience. Kate Messner provides a younger generation with a view into the past that’s both engaging and educational. Hopefully the above details in this comprehensive guide have provided you with answers to your questions and given you ideas and tools for continuing your trek through good literature. Please let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to know about this series! Happy reading.
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