Running in Circles (Shivaun Plozza, UQP)

In Running in Circles, Shivaun Plozza (The Worst Perfect Moment, The Boy, The Wolf and the Stars) brings climate science and extraterrestrial speculation together in a coming-of-age suspense novel set in the cane fields of Tully, North Queensland. Dell is a 12-year-old budding scientist who lives with her 3 sisters and their hard-working father. Life feels mostly stable until her estranged, bohemian mother Andrea, now a fully-fledged ufologist, floats back into town after 5 years. At the same time, strange lights begin appearing in the night sky, and a mysterious crop circle is discovered. The incidents spark near-hysteria in the community, and soon conspiracy theorists, UFO believers, sceptics and journalists are all converging on Tully after Andrea announces a potential alien landing date. Andrea’s return has an almost cyclonic impact on Dell’s family. Will her mum stay, or will she vanish again, as she always has? Determined to protect her father and sisters from further heartbreak, Dell teams up with her best friend Teddy to expose Andrea and her fellow ufologists as frauds. Plozza explores the complicated family dynamics with warmth and sensitivity. As Dell works out which battles are worth picking with peers, family and strangers, she also learns a more important lesson: to fight for what really matters to you, no matter how difficult it might be. Running in Circles is heartfelt and sharply observed, making it an ideal read for 11 to 14-year-olds.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Tony Doyle is an educator, teacher and writer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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