Disaster on the Titanic

Ranger in Time #9

by Kate Messner, Kelley McMorris (Illustrator)

Everyone says the Titanic is unsinkable, and Patrick Murphy believes this most of all. He grew up near the shipyard where the magnificent ship was built and officially started working there when he turned thirteen. He's even been chosen to be part of the crew during the Titanic's maiden voyage! Ranger meets Patrick before the ship sets sail, and once on board, they befriend Maryam and Hamad. But one night, the ship hits an iceberg and starts to take on water. It's a race against time for Ranger and his friends to help get as many passengers -- including themselves -- off the ship before it's too late.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Time Travel, Dogs

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2019

About the author

Kate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.

Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com

Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner

...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner

I could hardly wait to get my hands on this one. I wasn’t disappointed in the least. I had to read it without putting it down. Kids are gonna love it! I do!

[Kiersten Naberhaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When you couldn’t fix a problem, you could at least let a person know you were there.”

I got this rec from a librarian after telling her I had run out of age-appropriate Titanic content for my 6 year old who can’t get enough. This was a hit! And as a bonus, it included information he hadn’t heard before because it begins in the shipyard where the Titanic was built.

It doesn’t shy away from pain and death in the same way that Magic Treehouse does. It was handled well and in a historically accurate way, but still enough to make me emotional while reading.

This is the first children’s book that we’ve read where we were actually questioning whether the main character would survive. The stakes were set high.

We had to stop a couple times to explain some things -
“Why were they threatening to shoot men if they forced their way into the lifeboats?”
“Why did the women and children have to go first?”

As a read-aloud I appreciated that the dialogue between characters was not overwhelming - not as many “he said / she said” as so many other children’s books.

[Hails · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ranger in Time series has quickly become my favorite children’s series. It was previously Magic Tree House for many years, which explains why I love Ranger: the premises are very similar, but with a dog traveling in time to different historical events and disasters in these books, rather than two siblings. While completing a Titanic unit in history, one of my students found this book in my classroom — I didn’t even know I had it! So we of course read it together, and I found that it combined a few things that I absolutely love: golden retrievers, the Titanic, and cliffhangers that had the children asking for me to read “just one more chapter.” I would highly recommend this series for teachers of younger grades and will definitely be purchasing the rest of the books to read to my students next year!

[Dann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and educational, Ranger in Time: Disaster on the Titanic is a terrific adventure. Trained search-and-rescue dog Ranger is transported back in time to 1912 where he meets a young boy named Patrick who works at a shipyard that’s building the Titanic, and he ends up joining Patrick on the ship’s maiden voyage. Author Kate Messner takes a few liberties, but overall does a great job at constructing an exciting story for children that retains the essence of the Titanic tragedy; going so far as to include little-known facts such as the Titanic’s cat and highlighting the diversity of the steerage passengers (going beyond the stereotypical English, American, and Irish) by including them as main characters. Also, illustrator Kelley McMorris provides some wonderful artwork that captures the characters and ship especially well. Additionally, an Author Note section is included that goes through some of the real-life inspirations and research that Messner did. Ranger in Time: Disaster on the Titanic an incredibly imaginative and entertaining children’s book.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this with my students and they loved it

[Cadee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I like this book because even if the Titanic sank that night at least the 12-year-old is safe and some of the other people were too." -Cadee, age 9

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My thoughts} – I have been power reading through this series from the beginning. I enjoy all the big history events that are covered within the pages.

This current book is based on the Titanic. There is this young boy named Patrick, his dad was helping to build the Titanic and then he’d died in an accident. Patrick decided to follow in his dads foot steps and help with building the Titanic as well.

Ranger shows up in time to save Patrick from nearly the same kind of accident that had claimed his fathers life. Once the Titanic is completed, Patrick is chosen as one of the workers to go and help on the ship during its maiden voyage.

Patrick is really excited about this opportunity. As you can imagine it was a really big deal back then. Ranger isn’t sure what his job is in this adventure, but knows he doesn’t want to be on the boat. He decides to stick around Patrick and hope he can sort things out.

Eventually the big day comes, everything falls together fast for Ranger. Soon he starts to understand what his job is and he carries it out to the very best of his ability.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I like how the sinking of the Titanic was explained, and how the author was able to share all the character’s fears and worries. I look forward to reading the next book in the series very soon!

[Abigail Rowe]

Disaster on the titanic (ranger in time #9) By Kate Messner. If you like dogs you're going to like this book. This book is about the titanic Witch sunken in 1912. there are two mane charters, Rangers,a time traveling dog that will help save Patrick. 1911,in nine teen eleven Patrick was working on the unsinkable ship called the titanic. Patrick worked with men to build the titanic it was a decent job. so when the ship sunk all wemen and chriren where evacuated off first on the row boats the men where evacuated off last only a few survived. over all this is a great book and I would suggest this to people who like dogs and I Survived.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book to my 6 year old, pet-loving child. I knew this story would be hard due to the topic, but I think its descriptions were very emotional and scary for young kids and sensitive readers. While reading, I wasn't sure if even the main characters would survive, which I think is a lot to put into a kid's book.
The story revolves around a young boy whose dad died while working at the shipyard, so he is now working on the same ship to help support his mom. He then goes on the ship as a crewman and befriends two kids who are orphans. Definitely topics to be aware of and to possibly discuss differences been the early 1900s and now.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

People have spilled a lot of ink over the Titanic's sinking, but this story treads new ground regardless, covering the event from the perspective of an Irish shipbuilder turned steward and some children immigrating from Lebanon. The historical note shares more information about the Titanic, and about the true historical basis for these characters. The historical note also shares information about the animals on the ship, since Ranger meets some of them.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts well before the Titanic sets sail which is interesting since I don’t think we often see Titanic stories from the perspective of the people who helped build it and then sailed on it. The stuff from the dog’s perspective is a little weird since he’s very anthropomorphized but I think it’s very age appropriate for the audience. I will probably encourage Holland to let me read him more of these because it was sweet

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big Ranger fan AND a voracious reader of all things Titanic so I really wanted to check out this one. As usual, Messner has done her research and presents a historically accurate, yet kid-friendly rendition of this tragic event with a time traveling golden retriever thrown in for good measure. Love the backmatter!

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cross between Magic Tree House and I Survived. Instead of a treehouse and two kids, there's a first aid kit and a dog. Like an I Survived book, there was plenty of adventure and life and death moments.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

“When you couldn’t fix a problem, you could at least let a person know you were there.”

Ranger hooks up with Patrick, a steward on the Titanic, as they try to save as many people as they can before the boat goes down.

[Ryan M. Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an outstanding series for young readers. I can imagine many student readers devouring the entire set! I chose to read this one because I have always been so interested in anything related to the Titanic.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the series, but this one felt much darker than some of the others.
I loved how the author's research led her to include the story of Lebanese immigrants on the Titanic. I've been marginally obsessed with the Titanic since I was a kid, but this info was new to me!

[Raechel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time traveling dog sent to different times to help people. This is the first Ranger in Time book I read of this series. It was good. Kate Messner shares the urgency of Titanic's situation without sharing all the sadness.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction novel for kids. It deals with the realities of the titanic sinking in an age appropriate way. I do wish Patrick, Hamad, and Mayam’s story line would be been wrapped up a little better.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a different take on this tragedy that offers a glimpse of those who built the ship and how that happened. There's also an immigration story to connect with.

[Isla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked Patrick because i have a brother named Patrick.
I really like ranger he is a golden retriever.

[Kalysta · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Titanic-loving students will definitely enjoy this one.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boys read aloud

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun book in this series. This one was a bit more dramatic, as you can imagine.

[Brieanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely our family’s favorite read aloud series right now!

[GheenGirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turtle: great! Return to library.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good book!

[Anissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction book for kids on the Titanic. Handles the suspense of it all well without going overboard. I also appreciate the Author’s Note for the added clarification.

[Kennedy Lektorich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and I guess moms want to read it too.

[Luna Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Very intense for a children’s book!