If you plan to read Noah's Universe with your class, you may find the following notes helpful.  

What you use, will depend on the age of your students.

   

If you and your students have ideas that might help other teachers, please send them to me,

so I can add them here.

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N.B. The story is set in England and for that reason it was natural to use mostly English

vocabulary and spelling.

  

Main Settings

• Ducks Down: the village where Noah lives.  

• Ducks Down Woods: this is a place where Noah loves to spend time.

• Oak Mount School: the private school that Noah attends. 

   

Main Characters

Noah Moon: The protagonist. His character evolves throughout the book. 

Pretzel: An otherworldly character that Noah meets in the woods. He represents the universe and acts

as Noah's mentor while providing some light relief. However, it soon becomes apparent that he is

tailoring Noah for a particular mission.  

Axel: A bully who loses his hold over Noah as Noah grows in courage. We see signs of Axel wanting

to turn his behaviour around but he himself is bullied by his father.

Carter, Axel's father: The main bully. A man with money and power who tries to control those around

him.

Mr. Collins: Noah's classroom teacher. He tries to act tough but is a morally weak man. He is under

the control of Carter.

Nell: Best friend of Noah. She is loyal and supportive.

Arnie: A sidekick to Axel until he decides he no longer wants to follow a bully. He becomes a good

   friend to Noah.

Joshua: A new Kenyan boy in Noah's class. He also becomes a good friend to Noah.

Naomi: Noah's mum. Often referred to as Mum. 

Jack Dobbs: A local policeman who becomes close to Noah and his mum. 

Lily Brown: A neighbour who becomes an important adult in Noah's life.

Ms. MacTavish: Headteacher of the middle school.

Mr. Obie O'Shea: Principal of the school.

   

The Story

Through all he sees and experiences, Noah evolves from being a sad victim to a courageous boy with

a strong voice. This was something he could not have done alone. Pretzel is the character who picks

him up and carries him along, teaching him the importance of kindness and all that means. As Noah

grows in confidence, other supporting adults become visible in his life. 

However, life's path is rarely smooth. One of the hard lessons Noah is forced to learn is that adults are

not always good and trustworthy. Carter and Collins prove this as they represent the worst in human

character. Having overheard a secret conversation, Noah becomes caught up in their world. In order

to escape their clutches, he needs to uncover the mystery behind their actions.

The problems at Noah's school are also reflected in the outside world. If he can help to solve them in

his own school, can he help beyond? Noah's own limited universe gradually expands as Pretzel

encourages him to stretch beyond those limits.

   

Themes

Kindness

This theme runs throughout the book. While Noah learns that showing kindness isn't always easy, it

usually wins out in the end.

Grief

Noah's father died when he was seven. Even at ten years old, he still feels very sad. With Pretzel's

help, he goes from sadness to anger before finding the beginnings of healing by focusing on happy

memories. Noah has to come to the understanding that a new father doesn't mean disrespecting or

replacing his real dad. 

Diversity and Acceptance

Noah's journey teaches readers the significance of seeing beyond superficial categories and labels

when interacting with others. Pretzel, further enriches this narrative by choosing to be recognized

for their unique personality rather than being defined by gender. This aspect of the story encourages

a deeper understanding and respect for individual identity choices, highlighting the richness that diversity

brings to our lives.

Bullying

From the outset, Noah is bullied by Axel until he learns to stand up for himself. But he soon discovers

that Axel's dad is the greater bully, exerting control over all those around him. We also see bullying

through the eyes of Arnie and Nell.  

Fairness and equality

Inequality appears at the beginning of the book through Mr. Collins's treatment of his students.

Carter, the main antagonist, controls his world through money and power. Noah realizes that his

friends, Joshua and Nell, along with her brother, Jake, struggle to be treated equally.

 

   Points of Discussion

   🌟 Noah makes judgments about Lily Brown without knowing her. Is it fair to judge people without

   getting to know them?

   🌟 What are the signs that there is something otherworldly afoot before Noah meets Pretzel?

   🌟 Noah's favourite place to be is in the woods. Do you have a favourite place?

   🌟 Noah goes through fear, sadness, and then anger before he finds courage. What do you think is

   the worst emotion a human being can feel or demonstrate? 

   🌟 When Noah throws the stick at Axel in the woods, do you think he had any other choice? Should

   he have stood still and faced his foes? Is there any difference between moral and physical courage?

   🌟 When was a time you showed physical courage? When did you show moral courage? 

   🌟 We're taught that lying is wrong. Noah sometimes lies. Do you think his lies are justified?

   Is hiding the truth the same as lying? Can telling a lie ever be kind?

   🌟  Do you feel any sympathy for Axel? Can you see any signs that there is goodness in him?

   🌟 There are a number of examples of unfairness and inequality in the book. What are some of

   those examples? When have you been treated unfairly?

   🌟  It's not easy, to be a good friend all the time. When is Noah a good friend? When is he a

   bad friend?

   🌟 Who are the most supportive adults in Noah's life? What part do they play? Who are the most

   important adults in your life? How are they supportive?

   🌟 Pretzel gives Noah the courage to take risks and to express his opinion. Are you comfortable

   doing this?   

   🌟 What are some of the things Noah finds comfort in (e.g. snuggling under the covers in bed,

   his mum's homemade cookies, fish and chips on a Saturday evening, going into the woods)?

   What are your anchors of comfort?

   🌟 When Noah tries to befriend Axel, what do you think his real motive is? Did he really want to

   be his friend, or was he just trying to get information from him? 

  🌟  When Axel's dad is angry to find his son at the village green with Noah, Axel tells Noah 

   that he never wanted to be his friend. Do you think that is true?  

   🌟  At the end of the book, when Noah and Axel are sitting on the swings together, they remain

   silent. If they had spoken, what do you think they would have said?

   🌟  Do you think there is other life out there in the vast forever? If so, what do you think it is like? 

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