Running in Circles

by Shivaun Plozza

When crop circles appear in Tully, North Queensland, twelve-year-old Dell knows it's a hoax. She's a future climate scientist who believes in facts, not science fiction. But Dell's estranged mum is an extraterrestrial fanatic. She blusters back into town armed with alien conspiracy theories and a dazzling smile.

If Dell can prove the crop circle is fake, surely her mum will hightail it out of Tully again, preferably before she causes Dell's dad and three sisters further heartbreak. But as her mother's claims grow more out of this world and alien fever takes over the country, Dell worries she's fighting a lost cause. How can she convince anyone of the truth when they're all so desperate to believe a lie?

Genres: Middle Grade, Family, Contemporary

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

Shivaun Plozza is an award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Her debut novel, Frankie, was a CBCA Notable Book and won a number of awards, including the Davitt Awards and a commendation from the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. Her second novel, Tin Heart, sold in three foreign territories, received two starred reviews, and was nominated to ALA’S Best Fiction for Young Adults list. Her debut middle-grade novel, The Boy, the Wolf, and the Stars, is forthcoming in 2020 from HMH Books for Young Readers and Penguin Random House Australia. She is a frequent contributor to anthologies, and when she is not writing she works as an editor and manuscript assessor. 

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Shivaun Plozza book I’ve read.

Set in Tully, Queensland, home of the largest sugar mills in Australia, and the Golden Gumboot - because of the high rainfall.

Main character Del, has faultless running through her family, school and town, with nearly all set in a spin when Annie comes back to town.

While Del’s younger sister’s passion is orcas, Del’s is climate change science. But, Andie, self-described UFOLOGIST, has a passion for unsettling and disrupting,

With her best friend Teddy, Del tries to use logic, reason and evidence to protect her family and herself. Part-mystery, thriller and family drama ‘Running in circles’ is an excellent read for readers aged +10 years old.

Warning: you’ll be googling ‘Tully’, ‘Golden Gumboot’ and ‘Mountain mist frogs’, along with ‘ley lines’ and ‘crop circles’.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a beautifully told middle grade story of complicated families and growing up.

In Tully North Queensland, twelve year old aspiring climate scientist Dell, has plenty of weather to study, since it’s the rainiest place in Australia. However, when crop circles suddenly appear, her scientific mind knows that it must be a hoax. When her extraterrestrial obsessed Mum reappears in town after years without contact, Dell is sure that she will leave them again as soon as she proves the crop circles are fake. With alien fever taking over the town and Dell’s dad and sisters beginning to fall for her Mum’s charms, Dell despairs of exposing the truth before she is left on her own.

Running In Circles was a highly engaging and thoughtful story with wonderfully realised characters. It was so easy to relate to Dell and her feelings of betrayal by her mum, as well as her determination to stop climate change. Her friendship and loyalty to her friend Teddy were also incredibly heartwarming, especially seeing the way she continuously stands up to the school bully on his behalf.

Shivaun’s latest novel is one that will appeal to young readers and adults alike. It’s such a heartfelt story and the perfect book to read together.

[Helen Farch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this new coming-of-age middle grade story about family, friendship, and conspiracy theories.

Dell struggles with her mother returning to town, but for the crop circles appearing in the sugarcane fields not her abandoned family.

The return of her mother impacts her whole family in different ways... her dad lives in hope, her younger sisters don't remember who she is, her older sister is consumed by anger, and Dell is convinced if she can just prove the crop circles are a hoax then her mother will leave them alone again and nothing will have to change.

But as the whole town is overtaken by belief that the aliens are coming, Dell and her best friend Teddy are fighting a losing battle to prove that science will prevail over pseudoscience.

I really enjoyed the crop circle/conspiracy theory aspect of this story, as well as Dell's determination to hold her family together.

Ultimately, this is a story about the grief of a family breakup, navigating our world of misinformation, and having the courage to tell the truth in the face of overwhelming opposition.

Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy of this book

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic, all the feels, including sad ones. Reminded me of home.