Ranging Through Time with Kate Messner's Time Traveling Rescue Dog

Need a stack of books to sustain your 2nd to 4th graders (and up!) on a road trip this summer? Look no further. The Ranger in Time series will eat up the miles. Why someone hasn't written about a time-travelling rescue dog before now is a mystery, but perhaps Ranger was waiting for Kate Messner to show up, and for Kelley McMorris to capture him in her winsome illustrations.

Squirrel Problems

Ranger is the best rescue dog on the planet. He just has one small problem--squirrels! Chasing one of the fluffy-tailed critters during his rescue test cost him his certification. But Ranger doesn't need paperwork to travel through time, find the lost, save lives, or hope for bacon. He returns home from each mission satisfied with a job well done and a small memento, reminders of the people he's met.

Corners of History

Ranger ends up in often overlooked corners of history.  Messner firmly sets her narrative in these corners without overwhelming young readers with facts. For example, Ranger in Time: Danger in Ancient Rome, leads us beneath the Roman Coliseum, with its wild lions, elaborate stage machinery, and tunnel to the Ludus Magnus gladiatorial school.

In Long Road to Freedom we learn about the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in the United States and it's devastating consequences for escaped slaves, and the abolitionists who tried to help them. Journey Through Ash and Smoke takes us to 934 A.D. and Viking Iceland where, rather than raiding, we see Viking families settling in a new land--a land of unexpected volcanic eruptions.

Inquiring minds can find many more fascinating facts in the end notes of all the books as well as personal photos from Messner's travels and her first hand observations.

Shadow and Light

History is a messy place full of shadow and light, hard edges and beautiful sunsets. Messner presents readers with fictional protagonists in true stories that include the shadows, but are still accessible to young readers.


For example, Race to the South Pole follows the fictional Jack Nin, a boy of Chinese and Maori descent from New Zealand who stows away on the fateful Scott Expedition to the South Pole. Although a few men survived the expedition, most did not, as well as all the ponies and some sled dogs. Hard truths well told.


Tid Bits:

It's the small concrete details that win me over in any story. Here's one from the Oregon Trail:

"The Fergusons had something called a roadometer attached to their wagon. It used cogs and gears to record the number of times the wagon wheels went around, and then turned that number to miles."

Who knew?!

Home

"Imagine saying good-bye to your house, almost all of your friends and extended family, and most of your possessions. Imagine leaving everything you know to begin a long, long journey to a new home in a place you've never seen." --Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail 

The theme of home runs through the series. Each child Ranger encounters in his time travels is on a journey toward home in some way, whether they are pioneer children, Roman or American slaves, or a viking daughter. Jack Nin journeys to the South Pole looking for adventure and glory only to discover home is the only place he wants to be.

"Ranger stood in the mud and looked up, too. It felt like something should happen. He'd rescued Pa. Would Luke come and take him home now? But when he heard the words 'Good job,' it was Sam's voice--not Luke's."

Home is a theme for Ranger, too. After a job well done of finding and rescuing, Ranger longs to return home to his boy, Luke. Eventually, he does, of course. Yet, each time the call for help comes Ranger answers without hesitation.

Eight Books and Counting!

The Ranger in Time series is eight books strong and counting. The series covers these topics:

1. Oregon Trail, 1850
2. Ancient Rome: Gladiators
3.The Underground Railroad
4. The Scot South Pole Expedition
5. Vikings in Iceland
6. San Francisco Earthquake
7. D-day
8. Hurricane Katrina
9. The Titanic (forthcoming Jan. 2019!)

Ranger in Time has appeal for both boys and girls. I highly recommend them for reluctant readers and agree with others that they are a next step for anyone who has devoured The Magic Tree House series.



Michele Hathaway is an author and freelance editor. She has an M. A. in Social Anthropology and has worked in libraries in California, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. She writes middle-grade nonfiction and stories set in culturally diverse, historical periods.

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Antarctic Exploration

Robert Lee Murphy on his first trip to Antarctica in 1976.

This time of year, as the austral winter commences in the Southern Hemisphere, my thoughts turn to Antarctica. South of the Antarctic Circle, the continuous days of sunlight are fading. The summer scientists and the large contingent of support personnel have departed The Ice. A few intrepid winter-over scientists and support people will remain isolated for more than half a year throughout the coming long winter’s night. I never "wintered-over," but I did make fourteen trips to the South Pole during my years of working with the United States Antarctic Program. 

More people attended the Super Bowl this year than have ever visited the South Pole. Realize that the antarctic continent is equal in size to the United States and Mexico combined. If you were to visit Antarctica on a cruise ship and dock at McMurdo Station (America's principal support base), it would be like arriving in Houston. The South Pole is located at Chicago! There are no roads between the two locations.

The polar regions of Earth were among the last places explored on our continent. The South Pole was reached only a little over a century ago. Man first set foot at the North Pole less than three years prior to that. Serious consideration is currently being given to sending a manned expedition to Mars. Today’s middle-grade students will probably participate in that momentous event. Interestingly, one of the first places that might be explored on Mars will be the polar regions. Water ice may exist there, making supporting life for human explorers somewhat easier. Middle-graders with an interest in space travel should study the history of the exploration of Antarctica.

In order to appreciate the historical fiction presentations of antarctic exploration, it would be helpful to know about the polar regions. There are no polar bears in Antarctica, and there are no penguins in the Arctic. One of the best books currently available about the two polar regions is DK Eyewitness Books: Arctic and Antarctic by Barbara Taylor. This is a beautifully illustrated volume loaded with information about the flora, fauna, and the geography of the polar regions. This book also contains an excellent introduction to the exploration of both the North Pole and the South Pole. The reader will learn the facts about the differences between the polar areas. The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land, while the Antarctic is land surrounded by oceans.

The Birthday Boys by Beryl Bainbridge presents a fictional account of the doomed 1910-13 South Pole expedition of Robert Falcon Scott. It is written in first-person narrative format by five of the members of the expedition: Captain Scott, Petty Officer Evans, Doctor Wilson, Lieutenant Bowers, and Captain Oates. The book received strong reviews when it was published in 1991. Publishers Weekly wrote . . . "gripping, moving and hair-raisingly readable novel . . ." School Library Journal stated the book . . . "conveys a vivid sense of the era and of the pride, idealism, and bravado of the explorers." The novel glosses over the final fateful loss of life when Scott and his companions perished on their return journey from the South Pole.

Roald Amundsen: The Conquest of the South Pole by Julie Karner is not a fictional account of Amundsen's journey to Antarctica. This biography does do a nice job explaining how the Norwegian explorer set out secretly for the South Pole in 1910 with the intention of beating Robert Scott in the race to discover the South Pole. This book points out that Amundsen relied on his prior arctic exploration experience, his expert dog-handling skills, his willingness to eat his dogs for survival, and his pure luck in finding the route that allowed him to reach the South Pole a month earlier than Scott. 

One of the most thrilling exploring stories of Antarctica is that of one of Sir Earnest Shackleton's voyages. Shackleton originally was part of Scott’s expeditions, but he later struck out on his own. Nick Bertozzi’s graphic novel, Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey, relates in a format familiar to middle-grade readers the harrowing tale of how Shackleton’s ship Endurance was crushed in the ice. This disaster nearly resulted in the loss of all lives on board. The book covers the two-year trip as these shipwrecked explorers struggle to save themselves. Perhaps, after reading this comic-book presentation, middle-graders will be inspired to tackle South: The ENDURANCE Expedition. Written by Sir Earnest Shackleton himself, the book is a classic about leadership and survival.

When I set out to write this blog post, I was sure I would find numerous fictional accounts about polar exploration oriented toward the middle-grade reader. I was disappointed. As an author with antarctic experience, perhaps I will have to tackle writing such a book myself.

History from a Dog's-Eye view

Any story with a dog is usually a hit for me, but what about a story told by a dog? That's a home run in my book, so I was thrilled when I found the Dog Chronicles, a series of middle readers by Alison Hart and illustrated by Michael Montgomery, published by Peachtree.

These books focus on exciting and often lesser known history that will pique the interest of readers 7-10 years of age. You can also find free teacher's guides at the link above. The following excerpts are from the Peachtree website:

Murphy: Gold Rush Dog

"Join Murphy as he finds a home with Sally and Mama, who have recently arrived in gold-rush era Alaska to seek a new life."

“Equal parts heart-wrenching and -warming…its message of the value of love over greed is as subtle as it is powerful. An adventure-filled tale set within a fascinating period of history.” ―Kirkus Reviews

You can find another great gold rush read in Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine.

Finder: Coal Mine Dog

"When Thomas’s family needs money, he and his dog, Finder, are forced to go to work in the coal mines."

“Well-told and entertaining.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Suspenseful.” ―Horn Book Guide

Darling: Mercy Dog of World War I


"When the British military asks families to volunteer their dogs to help the war effort, Darling’s family sends her off to be trained."

“While never shying away from the tragedies of battle, Darling’s story focuses on bravery, sacrifice and devotion….Wartime adventure with plenty of heart.” ―Kirkus Reviews

For more good dog stories, see Elizabeth Junner McLaughlin's post Dogs at War. 

Leo: Dog of the Sea

I missed the history of the spice trade when I was young. Considering how it changed the world, I was thrilled to find this reader.

"A hardened old sea dog joins Magellan on his journey to the Spice Islands in this action-packed and heartwarming story."

“Frank history, attention to factual detail, and vivid adventures make this a standout.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Michele Hathaway is a writer and freelance editor. She has an M. A. in Social Anthropology and has worked in libraries in California, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. She writes stories set in culturally diverse, historical and contemporary periods.

Subscribe to get posts automatically and never miss a post. You can use the Subscribe or Follow by E-Mail buttons to the right, or add http://madaboutmghistory.blogspot.com/to Feedly or another reader.