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Ranger in Time #10
Night of Soldiers and Spies
Ranger's next mission finds him in the middle of the Revolutionary War. There he meets Isaac Pope, a fisherman turned soldier for the Continental Army. When General George Washington is in need of a spy to cross into enemy territory, Isaac is chosen for the dangerous task. Ranger must help Isaac remain safe and undetected, or the battle -- and their lives -- will be lost.
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2019
About the author
Kate Messner
150 books1,745 followersKATE MESSNER is the New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books for young readers. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow,The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story, and Axolotl-Ella; novels like All the Answers, The Trouble with Heroes, and Keep the Ghost Light On; graphic novels like Camp Monster; and the Ranger in Time and Wildlife Rescue chapter books. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers graphic nonfiction series and leads the multi-author team behind The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class series.
Kate's titles have been honored with the American Booksellers Association Indies Choice Award, the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, the NAIBA Book of the Year Award, SCBWI's Golden Kite and Crystal Kite Awards and many state book awards. She's a frequent speaker at conferences, schools, and libraries around the world.
When she's not traveling, Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family and spends her free time hiking, kayaking, and listening to way too many Broadway cast recordings.
Kate's titles have been honored with the American Booksellers Association Indies Choice Award, the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, the NAIBA Book of the Year Award, SCBWI's Golden Kite and Crystal Kite Awards and many state book awards. She's a frequent speaker at conferences, schools, and libraries around the world.
When she's not traveling, Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family and spends her free time hiking, kayaking, and listening to way too many Broadway cast recordings.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 20, 2020
My 7 year old son and I love this book so much that, even though we had it for 12 weeks while our public library was closed, we've now bought our own copy, because a dozen re-readings is definitely not enough.
As a huge history fan myself, I am so often humbled with how much I learn from reading the Ranger in Time series by Messner. Night of Soldiers and Spies opened up so many opportunities for my son and I to learn more about the American revolution...we had never heard of the integrated 14th Massachusetts regiment and that has led us to a lot of reading, as has the retreat after the Battle of Brooklyn, and we have followed Messner's reading suggestions to learn more about the crossing of the Delaware. After reading Night of Soldiers and Spies, my son was so inspired by the real regiment that the fictional Isaac Pope served in that he named our new puppy Colonel John Glover (Glovey for short), "because he's white, brown, and black, like all of the men that Colonel John Glover had fighting together for freedom."
We had already read about James Lafayette in the picture book that Messner recommends, A Spy Called James and it was wonderful to see him referenced in this story as well.
I am in awe of how Messner keeps her subjects fresh and is able to tell these hidden stories and side stories from history in a way that helps readers better understand the standard historical setting as well as shine light on stories that have been too long neglected. Beyond the history, though, this is just a great narrative - suspenseful and engaging, with the always-delightful dogginess of Ranger bringing light and smiles. Highly recommended. This series should be in every school library!
As a huge history fan myself, I am so often humbled with how much I learn from reading the Ranger in Time series by Messner. Night of Soldiers and Spies opened up so many opportunities for my son and I to learn more about the American revolution...we had never heard of the integrated 14th Massachusetts regiment and that has led us to a lot of reading, as has the retreat after the Battle of Brooklyn, and we have followed Messner's reading suggestions to learn more about the crossing of the Delaware. After reading Night of Soldiers and Spies, my son was so inspired by the real regiment that the fictional Isaac Pope served in that he named our new puppy Colonel John Glover (Glovey for short), "because he's white, brown, and black, like all of the men that Colonel John Glover had fighting together for freedom."
We had already read about James Lafayette in the picture book that Messner recommends, A Spy Called James and it was wonderful to see him referenced in this story as well.
I am in awe of how Messner keeps her subjects fresh and is able to tell these hidden stories and side stories from history in a way that helps readers better understand the standard historical setting as well as shine light on stories that have been too long neglected. Beyond the history, though, this is just a great narrative - suspenseful and engaging, with the always-delightful dogginess of Ranger bringing light and smiles. Highly recommended. This series should be in every school library!
December 19, 2019
{My thoughts} – Isaac and his friend Joe end up joining Washington’s army. They are young, but follow orders well. Isaac ends up sick with smallpox around the time Ranger joins the story.
Ranger stays with him well through out his time of healing. Once he is healed and better he rejoins the army where he’d left off. It does take him and Ranger a few days to catch up to them. Once they do though everything seems to work out alright for all involved.
He soon gets elected to be a spy and goes from side to side giving true and false information. The information he gives to Washington’s army is true. Ranger sticks around waiting everything out. He’s not sure when his job will be complete, but knows that when it is he’ll just know. In the meantime he’s going to continue protecting Isaac.
Towards the end of the book Isaac gets hurt. Ranger tries getting others to help, but they shoo him away. He eventually finds Joe and they get Isaac to a Doctor.
If you’d like to know what happens you’ll need to read the book. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Ranger stays with him well through out his time of healing. Once he is healed and better he rejoins the army where he’d left off. It does take him and Ranger a few days to catch up to them. Once they do though everything seems to work out alright for all involved.
He soon gets elected to be a spy and goes from side to side giving true and false information. The information he gives to Washington’s army is true. Ranger sticks around waiting everything out. He’s not sure when his job will be complete, but knows that when it is he’ll just know. In the meantime he’s going to continue protecting Isaac.
Towards the end of the book Isaac gets hurt. Ranger tries getting others to help, but they shoo him away. He eventually finds Joe and they get Isaac to a Doctor.
If you’d like to know what happens you’ll need to read the book. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 9, 2023
Love this series and have read most of them with my kids! I got this one from the library as my daughter has been studying the Revolutionary War. I love that it highlights a battle we don't hear much about is school history books, and I always love Messner's Author Notes at the end. I did feel like this book assumed readers has more background knowledge of the war, and I had to fill in quite a few gaps to help my kids understand what was going on. A map would have been super helpful to include in this book. I don't remember this problem as much in other Ranger books. Either way, my kids loved it, and we will keep reading Ranger in Time books as long as Kate keeps writing them!
May 12, 2023
I like the Ranger in Time series, but didn't care for this one due in part that the main character is a young man who is a spy and lies to the enemy. I think that's fine for older kids, but not so much for the younger set. Also, the storyline just wasn't as engaging as the other Ranger in Time book I read. There wasn't enough backstory for a younger child to really understand what was going on with the Revolution, etc.
October 18, 2023
It's been a while since we have read a book of this series, but after reading aloud two books in the Wings of Fire series, I needed a short book with short chapters!
Ranger in Time books are consistently well written and historically informative. This book was about America's war for independence against Britian.
We may read another before delving back into dragons and the land of Pantala. My 9 and 11 year old both enjoyed this book.
Ranger in Time books are consistently well written and historically informative. This book was about America's war for independence against Britian.
We may read another before delving back into dragons and the land of Pantala. My 9 and 11 year old both enjoyed this book.
September 6, 2025
Not sure how I feel about this book. First time I read a Ranger in Time book. It did not WOW me but could see it as interesting. Gives kind of a personal account of a young boy that is part of the Continential Army who became a spy. The historical aspect is intriguing as I haven't heard much about the Battle of Trenton.
March 22, 2026
Action-packed and full of historical tidbits, Ranger in Time is an excellent series for kids who love Magic Tree House and I Survived.
My 7yo’s review: Night of Soldiers and Spies was excellent. I learned so much about the Revolutionary War. My favorite part was when he had smallpox because I learned a lot about the disease.
My 7yo’s review: Night of Soldiers and Spies was excellent. I learned so much about the Revolutionary War. My favorite part was when he had smallpox because I learned a lot about the disease.
January 5, 2020
My son and I love this series! A brave boy is a spy for the continental army and is helped by Ranger, the time travelling dog!
March 7, 2020
This is a fun series for children to read to experience history with a dog! I enjoyed this short historical tale for my young elementary students book club.
October 17, 2020
I liked this book because it had a dog. - Age 7
May 23, 2021
Ranger helps another person in his time traveling adventures
August 17, 2021
Turtle: great! Return to library.
September 28, 2022
The pacing isn't great, but the story is educational and highlights the experiences of racial minorities during the Revolutionary War.
August 1, 2023
American Revolution....best one yet!
February 28, 2025
It was great reading this to my grandsons. A nice way to introduce American history to children. I will certainly read more of these books with my grandsons.
Read
December 17, 2025Had to proofread before I read it with my class so I’m counting it
March 6, 2026
This was a read aloud for my children during a revolutionary war unit. It was fine. It kept them entertained and asking questions about the Delaware Crossing and how slaves played a
Part in the war.
Part in the war.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews