Book Series · 12 Books

Ranger in Time Books

In order from Rescue on the Oregon Trail to Attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Ranger in Time series is a set of 12 chapter books by Kate Messner, published between 2015 and 2020. Written for ages 7–10, most books run about 160 pages.

Rescue on the Oregon Trail
Danger in Ancient Rome
Long Road to Freedom
Race to the South Pole
Journey Through Ash and Smoke
About the series

What's Ranger in Time About?

Twelve illustrated chapter-book adventures in which a time-traveling search-and-rescue dog helps children survive pivotal moments in history.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Rescue on the Oregon Trail
Sale price
$759
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015

Rescue on the Oregon Trail

By Kate Messner, Kelley McMorris (Illustrator)

A time-traveling dog must help a family survive the perilous Oregon Trail.

144 pages· 14,363 words· Est. 2 hour read
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Ranger, a time-traveling golden retriever, stumbles upon a mysterious first aid kit and is whisked to 1850. There, he meets Sam Abbott, whose family is journeying west on the Oregon Trail. Though Ranger helps save Sam's sister, the trail's dangers loom large. Can Ranger protect the Abbotts from unseen threats and ensure their safe passage? Adventure and peril await as Ranger discovers his true calling beyond distractions.
In reading order

Ranger in Time Series

12 books · Published 2015–2020

#1
#1 in Series
Sale price
$759

Rescue on the Oregon Trail

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015

A time-traveling dog must help a family survive the perilous Oregon Trail.

#2
Sale price
$674

Danger in Ancient Rome

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015

A young boy is transported back in time to ancient Rome where he befriends a gladiator and helps him win his freedom.

#3
Sale price
$674

Long Road to Freedom

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015

A young girl and her brother escape from slavery in Maryland and travel to Canada with the help of a magical dog.

#4
Sale price
$674

Race to the South Pole

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2016

A young boy named Jack Nin stows away on a ship headed to Antarctica to help his family's struggling market garden.

#5

Journey Through Ash and Smoke

Chapter Book · Ages 8–10 · 2017

A young girl named Helga travels through a treacherous landscape to find her father and bring him home to her ailing mother.

#6

Escape from the Great Earthquake

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2017

In San Francisco, 1906, a devastating earthquake strikes, and a young Chinese girl named Lily and a dog named Ranger team up to find her friend's brother and escape the city.

#7
Sale price
$674

D-Day: Battle on the Beach

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2018

A young boy and a soldier team up to survive the D-Day invasion of Normandy during World War II

#8
Sale price
$674

Hurricane Katrina Rescue

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2018

In the midst of Hurricane Katrina, a young girl named Clare and her dog Ranger navigate the dangers of the storm and its aftermath to find Clare's grandmother and father, who have been separated from them.

#9
Sale price
$674

Disaster on the Titanic

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2019

A boy and his dog travel back in time to the Titanic, where they must help a young boy and his sister escape the sinking ship.

#10
Sale price
$674

Night of Soldiers and Spies

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2019

A young boy helps General Washington's troops escape from the British during the American Revolution.

#11

Escape from the Twin Towers

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2020

A young girl and her friend navigate the aftermath of a devastating terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

#12
Sale price
$674

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2020

A young sailor and a boy from a Japanese American family navigate the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Ranger in Time series?

There are 12 books in the Ranger in Time series. It began with Rescue on the Oregon Trail in 2015, and the newest book, Attack on Pearl Harbor, was published in 2020.

What order should you read the Ranger in Time books in?

Start with Rescue on the Oregon Trail and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #12.

What ages are the Ranger in Time books best for?

The series is best for ages 7–10, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

Which Ranger in Time book is the longest?

Race to the South Pole (Book #4) is the longest book in the series at 16,089 words (160 pages).

Which Ranger in Time book is the shortest?

Escape from the Twin Towers (Book #11) is the shortest at 11,915 words (144 pages).

The people

The Creatives Behind the Books

The authors and illustrators who bring Ranger in Time to life.

01

Kate Messner

Author
02

Kelley McMorris

Illustrator

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