Running In Circles

Running In Circles by Shivaun Plozza is a heartfelt middle grade coming-of-age novel set in steamy, sugarcane-lined Tully in North Queensland, where facts collide with the stories people want to believe. It’s smart, funny in places, and quietly powerful—especially for readers who love characters who think deeply and feel a lot.

Twelve-year-old Dell is determined to become a climate scientist, so when crop circles appear nearby, she’s sure they’re a hoax. Then her estranged mum blows back into town, glittering with charm and armed with alien conspiracy theories. Dell decides the best way to protect her dad and three sisters is to debunk the crop circles and send her mum packing—before the whole country gets swept up in extraterrestrial fever.

Perfect for readers who enjoy realistic fiction with science themes, family drama, and an Australian setting, as well as fans of thoughtful, resilient kids.

Add it to your stack and settle in for a story that keeps surprising you.