Ranger in Time

Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail is amongst a historical fiction series for young readers. This book was written by Kate Messner and was awarded the 2020 Knickerbocker Award for high-quality children's literature! What I found fascinating were the sources included at the back of the book is a list of sources that showcase Messner’s study of the Oregon trails. Of them are letters, diary entries, expeditions, and eye-witness accounts from that time period. In this book, Messner uses imaginary characters but uses events that are in the realm of possibility.
The main character of this historical fiction chapter book is a golden retriever named Ranger! Ranger is a search and rescue dog throughout the series. Ranger finds an abandoned first aid kit and transports back into time on the Oregon Trail. On the trail, Ranger takes kinship with a boy named Sam. Ranger decides to protect Sam and his family on the Oregon Trail. Ranger and Sam’s family face the common dangers associated from this historic trail such as buffalo stampedes, river crossing, and illnesses. Ranger has inner-conflict as he because he longs to return to his present-day owner Luke but finds himself having purpose and belonging when protecting Sam and his family. When I read this book, I found it really enjoyable to read from Ranger’s duo-perspective! Ranger uses his skills he learned as a search and rescue dog of the present when uses his senses and skills to protect the family that he time travels to in the past. The story comes to life as Ranger narrates using all his senses to take in his experience on the Oregon Trail. This book would be a great choice when teaching writing about complex character and duo-perspective! I could also see educators teach perspective since Ranger uses his skills and senses of his training to help him. It is also easier for readers to relate to Ranger because he too is facing his own battle (with not being able to pass his current day rescue test). Ranger finds hope in the past (the Oregon Trail) as he rescues/protects Sam and his family. Ranger develops strength, confidence, and a sense of purpose. I thought this book was very engaging for the young reader. It felt action packed with the experiences that they have on the Oregon Trail! This would be a very accessible book to many students second grade and above. After reading I did reflect on some thoughts such as “how did the story seem to end quickly?” and that it “lacked dialogue of the dialect of the pioneers”. I wish there was more to this story. I think this could be more actually portrayed in the story. However, this story would still be very beneficial when teaching a historical unit on the Oregon Trail. Teachers can have students highlight connections between past and present. They could also investigate/compare and contrast the different types of sources the author Kate Messner used when studying/composing this book (as included at the back of the book). Then students can also do a research project/Unit-Study based on one of the experiences Ranger and Sam have on the trail (buffalo stampedes, illnesses, river crossing, wagon travel, etc.. They could look for/design their own artifacts (Jackdaws) that represent the experience Ranger and Sam (pioneer boy) had on their adventure. The sky is the limit! Since this story is about a main character, it is so easy to love! Who can say no to a Golden Retriever? Ranger himself connects himself from past to present. Children get to explore the interrelatedness of time in a very accessible format. This would be a great way to introduce a historical fiction text to young readers with some scaffolding of prior knowledge of the Oregon Trail.