Rescue on the Oregon Trail (Ranger in Time #1)

Ranger in Time is an exciting book series about a time traveling golden retriever. Ranger travels back to important events in history and helps a child who is in need. In Rescue on the Oregon trail Ranger meets a kid named Sam. He helps Sam as his family travels across the United States on the Oregon trail to find a new home in the west. I love this book because it adds history into an adventure story. While the characters and stories are fiction the event of the Oregon trail really happened. We get a glimpse of what life might have been like back in that era all the while following Ranger the dog who is very entertaining.

As part of our homeschool curriculum, I require my son to read aloud for 20 minutes each day. Finding quality books that are challenging yet enjoyable, and do not push any particular agenda, is difficult at best. This series is well written and keeps the child engaged as Ranger goes on his rescue missions. It is also a great way to approach subjects that are difficult to talk about.

Ranger is a hyper-active golden retriever who just failed search and rescue training. He loves his human family and chasing squirrels but one day he uncovers a mysterious and magical box and is transported back in time. In the first installment of this series, Ranger ends up in 1850 on the Oregon Trail. It's here that his search and rescue training becomes second nature as he helps a new family and their friends survive a wagon train ride west. It's a delightful book with historical insight and author Kate Messner does not gloss over the realities of life on a wagon train across the prairie. Not everyone will survive the journey but most will thanks to Ranger to the Rescue! No doubt Ranger will time travel to many exciting periods in time always trying to get home to his family. This is simply a delightful book for children that adults will enjoy and appreciate. I can't wait to read more of Ranger's travel in time adventures.

Time travel has long been a staple of the science fiction/fantasy genre both for adults and for children. But this is the first time I've read a book that focused on an animal time-traveling. It creates an interesting conundrum for the animal since Ranger, a dog, can't explain to himself or to his new companions what happened and where he came from. I liked the fact that Ranger's skills in tracking and finding are clearly explained by his search-and-rescue training. The time travel elements are kept simple which is appropriate for a book for the 7-10 age group. More sophisticated readers might desire more explanation but for young readers it's best not to get bogged down in details. The book moves smoothly and quickly through the plot which will keep children turning pages. This new series I think will be a fun way to introduce young readers to just how interesting the past can be, in this case the pioneers who traveled across the plains to find a new life for themselves. The author includes many of the dangers that these pioneers faced such as buffalo stampedes, dangerous river crossings, and disease (including death). And yet the troubles Ranger and his adopted family face don't overwhelm the book. And Ranger despite his new attachments never forgets Luke and his original home. The book works well as a read-a-loud and would make for an excellent introduction to historical fiction while including a science fiction twist that will draw readers into the story.

Great condition and arrived on time.

My five year old and eight year old loved the tale. Enough danger to make it thrilling, and enough story to make learning bits about history interesting. We looked up every landmark that was mentioned, and my kids loved the idea that one could go visit these real places even today. We had a impactful conversation about quilts as old fashioned forms of scrapbooks, and even had the chance to talk about my memories from my old scrap quilt my kids have grown up with. We traced the journey they took across a map of the United States, and my kids were suddenly interested in knowing names of states. Important final note: if you, like I, have tried to find stories that are kinder to Native American tribes, and allow the truth of their generosity and kindness to shine through historical narratives...this book does that well. Without making any big spotlight on that part of the Oregon Trail, this book briefly mentions tribes and how some of them were instrumental to settlers’ journeys without fuss or fear. I deeply appreciated that.

This is a fun story told from Ranger's point of view. He was trained as a Search and Rescue dog, but he kept chasing squirrels, so he didn't pass the test. Instead he went back home with Luke and chased squirrels until one day he dug up a box--a strange box--so Ranger decided to show it to Luke; he shoved his head through the leather strap so he could carry it and then the box got hot and bright, and Ranger closed his eyes because of the light. When he opened his eyes, he was on the Oregon Trail, where he joined Sam and his family and their wagon train on the trail, sometimes helping them with his search and rescue training, but he never stopped wondering where Luke was and wanting to go home. I bought it because I was curious about a time-traveling dog and a story about the Oregon Trail. I did a lot of research on the Oregon Trail for Detour Trail, and I'm always ready to learn more. The author's note covers the history of the trail and search and rescue dogs, and there's a bibliography for readers who want to find out more. By the way, Ranger does go home after escorting the train to Oregon, and there's another adventure upcoming.

My 9 year old son really likes the Ranger in Time series. They are captivating enough for him to complete and I like the way they provoke enough thought that he reaches out to discuss different points along the way. I've found it difficult to find books that are exciting for him to read, written at a good level for him confidently read on his own, and are at a length that is not too short, but not so long that he looses interest before being able to complete. Great for AR testing too if your school promotes that.

great book, grade 2 level of reading.

My 7 year old granddaughter loved it. At Christmas she gets the next in the series.

Book met our expectations. Product as described by seller. Satisfied with purchase.

Kids are loving this books series, time travel and a dog -- what could be better!

My son loves this series!!!