The Secret Zoo

Noah Nowicki is the protagonist of the novel, and his is one of the several points of view through which readers see the novel’s events. He is protective of his younger sister, Megan, and loyal to his friends, Ella and Richie. Noah’s defining motivation is finding Megan, and he takes this on as his personal challenge; the adventure to rescue Megan is the major plot of the novel, and this determines Noah’s position as the protagonist.

In taking on an adventure trial or challenge that involves a personal or moral element, Noah’s character follows a well-established pattern for male protagonist narratives: the quest. Quest narratives go back to the earliest forms of literature and explore common themes: the adoption of a difficult challenge for compelling personal reasons (usually rescuing a female “maiden” archetype); themes of danger and obstacles; positive character traits of courage, resilience, and moral purpose; and problem-solving. The character of the protagonist is inextricably linked with the narrative quest; this is a personal journey as well as an action adventure. As well as positive traits, the quest narrative can expose weaknesses in the hero’s character and approach and explore whether they can overcome or learn from these.