- 10th book in a historical fiction series with a time traveling dog
- set in 1776, during the infamous Christmas night attack by George Washington as he and his soldiers crossed the icy water of the Delaware River
- based on real stories from American history
- convo: good luck charm, lying (to enemies in war), age-appropriate battle talk (shooting & deaths), vaccines & racism/slavery discussed in Author’s Note
Type: chapter book
Ages: 8-12
Author: Kate Messner
Illustrator: Kelley McMorris
Readers will feel the chill of this one! Messner vividly describes the frigid conditions the patriot soldiers experienced and fought through as they were ferried over rough waters overnight. The main character, Isaac, who Ranger travels back in time to help, is a trained mariner and works himself to the breaking point to safely transport all the men, horses, and weapons.
Isaac is a black boy and this is a sub-theme of the entire book–more specifically, slavery and racism. George Washington originally did not allow blacks to join the army, and it is purported that the Revolutionary War would have been won more quickly had he done so. There are a few more comments like this one and worthy of thoughtful conversation.
In the modern times from which Ranger travels, it is the Fourth of July! So this is a fantastic book to read either around that holiday or Christmas (or both). Definitely add it in to your curriculum plans when studying American history. Here are the other books of the series which I have reviewed:
Book 1: Rescue on the Oregon Trail
Book 2: Danger in Ancient Rome
Book 3: Long Road to Freedom
Book 4: Race to the South Pole
Book 5: Journey Through Ash and Smoke
Book 6: Escape from the Great Earthquake
Book 7: D-Day
Book 8: Hurricane Katrina Rescue
Book 9: Disaster on the Titanic