The Mysterious Abductions

The Nocturnals #1

by Tracey Hecht, Kate Liebman (Illustrations)

The Nocturnals is a fun-filled chapter book series about three unlikely animals who solve unpredictable mysteries of the night with friendship, teamwork, and humor.
In the first book, The Mysterious Abductions, animals are disappearing without a trace—and it’s up to Dawn, a serious fox, Tobin, a sweet pangolin, and Bismark, a pint-sized sugar glider to find out why. With the help of a gentle wombat, a jittery jerboa, a band of coyotes, and some kooky bats, the Nocturnals journey to the depths of the earth and play a wacky, high stakes game that will determine their survival.
Bonus full color illustrations at the start of each chapter!

GREAT FOR AGES 9–12
Now an AR Quiz!
Download complimentary printable activities at nocturnalsworld.com: animal mask crafts, bingo, word games, discussion questions, and the Common Core Language Arts and Next Generation Science educator guides.

READ ALL FOUR ADVENTURES WITH THE NOCTURNALS
In the second chapter book, The Ominous Eye, Dawn a serious fox, Tobin a sweet pangolin, and Bismark a pint-sized sugar glider investigate a sudden jolt that cracks the earth! They meet a mysterious reptile, a tuatara, who claims the beast who caused the crack may strike again. But can this tuatara be trusted? The Nocturnals team up with a fun array of forest animals to uncover the truth!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Mystery, Animals, Childrens, Fantasy, Chapter Books

232 pages, ebook

First published April 19, 2016

About the author

Tracey Hecht is a writer and entrepreneur who created The Nocturnals, the critically acclaimed middle grade and early reader series. The American Booksellers Association chose her first book, The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions, as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick. In addition, her Grow & Read early reader book, The Chestnut Challenge, was given a Mom’s Choice Gold Award. With the New York Public Library, she has also created a Read Aloud Writing Program that has since been conducted in over 150 schools, libraries, and bookstores. Tracey currently splits her time between New York City and Oquossoc, Maine, with her husband and four children.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Fun Fantasy Mystery Middle Grade book, and this is the first book in the Nocturnals series. All the characters in this book is animals, and I love getting to know all these characters. I love the mystery in this book, and this book as suspense for a middle grade. I love the ending of this book, and the message in this book was really good. I won a Paperback copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway, but this review is my own opinion about this book.

[Adam E · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a wonderful book about three interesting creatures working together to help other animals. really enjoyed talking about this book with my daughter

[Ella C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the pangolin. Also, I like the kiwis and the tarantula. Also, I like the coyotes.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine life as a nocturnal animal, sleeping by day and active by night. How different the world would be if you only saw it in shadows and silvery moonlight. What would you do if suddenly other animals started disappearing? Perhaps you hear rumors, a faint call for help, or even the sound of a scuffle. Who could be doing this and why? That is what happens to the characters in The Mysterious Abductions. Three very different animals - Tobin the pangolin, Bismarck the sugar glider, and Dawn the fox- work together to save themselves from a hungry snake on the very first night they meet. That success leads to the formation of the Nocturnal Brigade, with the three new friends ready to help others. And the brigade is formed just in time, because animal after animal is disappearing from the area near the river and no one knows who is taking them or why. Following the trail of missing animals, the brigade must face hungry crocodiles, swiftly flowing rivers, sharp rocks, and even sonar-addled bats. Will they be able to find the missing animals and return them to their families?

The Nocturnals features a wide variety of nocturnal animals - foxes, coyotes, sugar gliders, bats, pangolins, wombats, crocodiles, jerboas, kiwis, and tarantulas. It also features some wonderful vocabulary, especially from Bismarck (the sugar glider). He wants so much to impress everyone, even though he is such a small creature, that he uses very large words such as stupefying, precarious, and tardiness. Along with the extra-large words, he also sprinkles words and phrases from other languages into the conversation like absolument, ma cherie, amigos, and mio amore. Tobin is impressed by him, but Dawn sees through the theatrics and just gives him a look or a sigh to show that she isn't falling for his charm. The relationship between the three friends and the other animals has many humorous moments, even while they are on their mission to find and rescue the missing creatures.

Readers who enjoy animal adventures such as The Guardians of Ga'Hoole may have a new series to add to their bookshelves. The Mysterious Abductions is merely the first book featuring the Nocturnal Brigade, and there will be plenty more danger and laughter for the friends to share.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher for review purposes.

[tinabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging and gently educational middle grade novel about a group of unlikely friends—a brash and proud sugar glider, a timid pangolin, and a gentle but clever fox—who team up to investigate a string of animal kidnappings in the forest where they live.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

An animal friendship adventure that ends with a life-and-death hockey match? Of course!

This is a unique gift book for young readers of any age. Recommend as a modern tale for fans of A.A. Milne and Kenneth Grahame.

[Rachel Corsini · Rating 4 out of 5]

#NocturnalsSummer

Take a journey with The Nocturnals brigade in The Mysterious Abductions. Dawn the Fox, Tobin the pangolin, and Bismark the sugar glider band together to discover why animals are going missing. Along the way they encounter bats, a wombat, kiwis and a less than truthful jerboa.

I love stories with talking animals, and even though this is marketed as middle grade, even as an adult reader I have thoroughly enjoyed following the brigade on their journey. The characters are well thought out, Dawn being thoughtful, Bismark being extroverted, Tobin being shy and cautious.

I also enjoyed the fact that the animals used are not ones we commonly see being personified. It’s a great introduction to more exotic creatures which I really enjoyed.

I honestly can’t wait to read the second book in this series!

[Hannah Karns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling nighttime adventure for young readers!

The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions introduces readers to a quirky and courageous trio of nighttime animals: Dawn the fox, Tobin the pangolin, and Bismark the sugar glider. Set in a world where mysterious disappearances are troubling the animal community, this trio bands together to investigate the strange events and protect their fellow creatures.

The story shines with its strong themes of friendship, teamwork, and bravery, all woven into a fun, fast-paced mystery. Each character has a unique personality—Dawn is calm and wise, Tobin is sweet and cautious, and Bismark is dramatic and hilarious—making their dynamic both entertaining and heartwarming.

The dialogue is playful, and the writing style is accessible for middle-grade readers, with just enough suspense to keep them eagerly turning the pages. There’s also a nice blend of humor and action that balances the darker elements of the story.

One of the standout features is how the book encourages cooperation despite differences, making it a great pick for classroom or bedtime reading. The nocturnal setting adds a magical feel, and kids will likely fall in love with these unlikely heroes.

Critique: Some readers may find Bismark a bit over-the-top at times, and the plot, while engaging, wraps up a bit quickly. But overall, these are minor issues in an otherwise charming and imaginative tale.

#NocturnalsSummer

[Elizabeth Christman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book about all kinds of different animals
#nocturnalsSummer .

[Pam Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun and suspenseful for middle grade readers. I think all ages will enjoy as the characters are engaging and the journey has mystery. A good read.

[Caleb M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this one a while ago. And been in a reading slump since.

That doesn't mean this isn't a good book though! Because it was actually quite fun to read and good for me at the time.

My son got this for me for Christmas and asked me to read it and then we could talk about it together because he had already read it. After trying to discuss it with him...I'm not sure he actually read it 😂 But regardless, it was a thoughtful gift and I did enjoy my time with the unique and fun characters.

A fun little mystery that has a satisfying ending. I think this book would be great to be picked up as an animated TV show or a movie.

I really appreciated that there were unique animals as the main characters also. Other than the fox anyway. A sugar glider and a pangolin being part of the main trio was cool! I didn't even know what a pangolin was until I read this book. So it taught me something too.

A fun kids book that could be a great read with or for kids who like to read on their own. Or if you as an adult like more juvenile reads from time to time like myself.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lot about this book was really cute and fun! however, I did have some issues. why was Bismarck constantly sexually harassing Dawn? I thought that trope in children's literature died a while ago, but I guess not. didn't love the game that a lot of the book centered around; pretty abusive to some of the animals. also, while I loved the fun science facts I learned throughout, I found it confusing that some parts of the book were SO scientifically accurate, while others (animals from all over the world being in one place) were not. I know, they're talking animals so some disbelief needs to be suspended, but it just seemed odd where the reality line was drawn. overall, there were definitely things I enjoyed, but some of it fell short of my expectations. thanks so much to the publisher for the free copy/ARC, though!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I would love to thank Fabled Films Press for a free copy of the book!!!

How cute is this book?!?!? Oh my goodness! This would be an excellent read aloud in a second through fourth grade classroom, especially if the teacher can do voices. Not only is this a great story with humor and life lessons, it's also a great teaching tool. Kids can learn so much about all of the different animals. Shoot! I learned stuff and even found myself looking up information about the different animals. So fun!!! I was so excited about this book, that I ordered all of them for our library's Overdrive. I'm am very excited to booktalk this book! Teachers need to give this book some serious consideration!!!

[Leslie Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more. For one thing, it's adorable. The artwork is so appealing and it's not a bad story - just not as good as I was hoping. I don't always think adults are good judges of what kids will like so I'll see how it does in the library. I've had a couple of kids read it, but it hasn't been checked out a lot. I'm going to move it (and the rest of the series) to my early chapter book section though because I think younger kids might like it better than the older kids.

I thought I might read this aloud to a 3rd or 4th grade class, but I'm not sure I can keep up with all of the character voices. There is a lot to like about the book, but overall just was less than I was expecting.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son and I have read the shorter books together for these characters, but this was the first time I saw any chapter books for them, so we gave it a shot. To hear my 8-year old giggling at the nervous pangolin Toby passing gas and Bismarck’s reaction to it was what pulled us in right away. I think Bismarck the sugar glider was probably his favorite character, with all his over-the-top romantic feelings for Dawn the fox, and his use of multilingual retorts throughout the story. It was definitely a longer story than it needed to be, but still very cute and age-appropriate for a shared read-aloud.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animals are disappearing at night, and it’s up to the nocturnals, creatures who are normally awake at night, to solve the mystery. Banding together are a pangolin, a fox, and a sugar glider. Other animals getting in on the action include a wombat, a group of echo-location challenged bats, a band of coyotes and more.

The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions by Tracey Hecht is the first in a series that aims to introduce readers to Australia’s mammals while leading them on an adventure. The animals have to use their strengths, rely on teamwork, and be a bit daring to solve the mystery. The answer to the disappearances is wholly unexpected, and it adds a new element to the story.

The Nocturnals is appropriate for readers aged 9 to 11 to read on their own, but it also works as a parent-child read aloud for kids as young as six. And while young readers have fun following the action, they’ll also be learning about traits of the animals featured in the book. It makes for a winning combination of facts and fiction that I expect will entice kids to seek out the next books in the series.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nocturnal Brigade guard the night, ready to “confront the dangers that lurk in the shadows.” Comprised of three nocturnal animals—Tobin, a good-natured pangolin; Bismark, a romantic sugar glider; and Dawn, a wise red fox—the brigade find themselves in the middle of a mystery almost immediately.

Animals are waking up to find relatives missing, without a trace. Despite trusting their instincts, aggressively tracking down clues, and joining forces with the coyotes, the brigade is running out of time. A small jerboa named Jerry has tricked the entire group. He and Bismark are gone and it becomes clear Jerry is working for the unknown villains. Where have all the animals gone and who or what makes them leave?

The answer is unexpected and highly entertaining. The humor begins early. Bismark, the short statured sugar glider thinks he is a romantic Frenchman. He uses French phrases, mostly when speaking . . .

To Read the Full Review and Illustrations of Characters, Go To: http://bit.ly/MysteriousAbductions

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

For fans of Winnie the Pooh, this is a cute book about Australian, nocturnal animals joining together to solve a mystery of missing animals. The character Bismarck, a sugar glider prone to exclaiming in foreign language is stalwart and true, if a bit of a flirt. The other characters are less developed and the story does get a little repetitive. They keep meeting new creatures that join their brigade. Young animal lovers will enjoy reading about cute exotic animal friends, perhaps younger fans of the Warriors series would enjoy it.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hen and I had so much fun reading this book! We've really found some great reads this summer. We're already signed up at the library to get the next one on the list. Animals are missing and their disappearances are being noticed. A brigade of nocturnal animals is formed to solve the mystery. Are they safe? Can they find out what happened? Who is behind it all? And will Bismark the sugar glider find love?

Such a fun story with a brilliant nighttime setting.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Nocturnals was not what I was expecting and I wasn't a fan. While there is a slightly educational element to the story I just didn't find the characters and story as a whole to be very likeable. There were some things left unexplained, a character that is seemingly gone throughout a chunk of the climax, one incredibly annoying main character (Bismarck) and I had a difficult time even finishing this.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Yapha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun new animal adventure mystery, with fabulous spot illustrations for each chapter by a former student of mine. It features some interesting and unusual animals including a pangolin, sugar glider, wombat, kiwis, and jerboa as well as some more familiar ones. Recommended for animal lovers, grades 3 & up.

ARC provided by illustrator.

[Isabella Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a book that has mystery and parts of comedy. I was reading this book before but never finished it .I am so happy that I finally finished it. I loved the characters. Bismark was super funny, Dawn was my favorite, and Tobin was just so calm with everything. overall, this was a good book to read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book for younger readers. I love that it had an animal glossary in the back of the book for readers that may not know what each animal is or looks like. There are quite a few animal names that I would not have known and one of the animals likes to use French phrases. People can use context clues to figure out what the animal means though.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just cannot read this any longer. Some nocturnal animals join up to find out why other animals are disappearing. It is so drawn out and boring. The only bright spot is Tobin the pangolin and Cora the wombat. This story easily could have been half the length. We’re tapping out.

Eliana’s review: “Tobin is my favorite he’s kinda cute.”

[Arden Prins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute story and I think a lot of middle graders will love it. I liked the cast of characters and the plot was surprising! Made me wish I had a kid to read it to and do all the funny voices.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blurb/review will be posted closer to the book's release.

[Dana Carmichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend 5th grade and down. The animal vocabulary is unique to australia, but the story is reminiscent of Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Great opportunity to discuss class distinctions.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I love this book. We are already waiting for the next book to be available.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthropomorphic animals. Mystery mild peril. Some humor.