The Mysterious Abductions

February 15, 2016
Three uncommon strangers become friends and heroes in Hecht's debut middle-grade fantasy. Night after night, animals have been disappearing. A wombat, a honey badger, several kiwis, and even a tarantula have found themselves victims of this nocturnal predator. Or is it predators? Luckily Tobin the gentle pangolin, Bismark the multilingual sugar glider, and Dawn the brave fox are determined to get to the bottom of it. Calling themselves the Brigade, they steadily pick up clues as well as other animal comrades. But when Bismark disappears, only their wits and unique talents will save him and the other missing wildlife. Hecht's characters diverge from the standard talking-animal fare. Readers interested in other, less-well-known members of the animal kingdom will appreciate the variety of critters in the book. The different animals' particular characteristics enhance their personalities without pigeonholing their behavior, giving the author an opportunity to celebrate their strengths--happily without saturating the plot with a too obvious feel-good message. Bismark's distractingly italicized international vocabulary feels forced at times but is buoyed by the comedy of his misguided chivalry. The genuine concern of the animals for one another, even the villain, underscores the value of compassion and camaraderie. Full-color chapter heads are but one feature of the pleasing design. A delightful adventure about the power of uncommon traits and the joys of newfound friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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April 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Strange occurrences are happening in the Valley. Each night, a different animal vanishes. First it was kiwis and jerboas; now wombats and even coyotes are disappearing. Three unlikely animals form the Nocturnals, a brigade determined to track down the source of the "nappings." Dawn the fox, Tobin the pangolin, and Bismark the sugar glider use their evolutionary advantages and natural pluck to muster their fellow nocturnal animals together and confront the threat. The discovery of hieroglyphics depicting all the missing animals reveals that the abductions are more widespread than originally thought. Specific animals are being targeted, but why and to what end? When one of the Nocturnals gets snatched, the team must descend into a cave to free their friend. In this anthropomorphized animal mystery, readers are taken on a journey with Australia's mammals. Each chapter opens with a color illustration. These delightful pictures help to ground a North American audience in a foreign environment. The banter of the pompous and loquacious sugar glider provides laughs; unfortunately, the other characters are underdeveloped. Instead of establishing traditional mystery elements like discovering clues or encountering red herrings, the story focuses on displaying the natural defenses of each animal. Since there is no opportunity to speculate or make predictions, the suspense never builds. VERDICT A pass for all but the most dedicated lovers of Australian animals.-Jocelyn Charpentier, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 This new series documents the exploits of the Nocturnals, an unlikely trio who protect their fellow jungle denizens from all sorts of calamitiesin this adventure, kidnappers. Tobin is a shy pangolin; Bismark is a vainglorious sugar glider; and Dawn is a mysterious, elegant fox. The three eventually locate the captives in a subterranean cave under the control of Boris, a terrifying crocodile. Boris means to enslave the animals and create a winning team for a hockeylike sport that will lure back the humans ( coachers ) who took his family. A Nocs-versus-Crocs game will decide everyone's fate, until a nerve-wracking shoot-out ends in chaos: Boris is actually talking about poachers, and it becomes clear that his family will never come back. An offer of sympathy and friendship resolves the crisis. The characters are humorous and well developed, and the fast-moving plot features intrigue, unexpected twists, and the innovative hybrid hockey game. Accessible to upper elementary while sufficiently sophisticated for middle school, this new animal fantasy series should prove popular.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)