What is Running in Circles about?
A young teen named Dell is upset that her mother has returned to their small town after years of being away. With no thought for her four daughters and loving husband, she left five years before when her youngest daughter was only a toddler. She has been chasing UFO sightings and crop circles around the world.
Dell decides the only way to protect her family is to prove the new local crop circles in their small town that her mother has returned to see, are fake.
Plot summary of Running in Circles (no spoilers)
One Sunday, Dell and her best friend Teddy are walking home from a local creek after looking for a special type of frog. On the way past a corn crop, they see it moving and decide to take a look.
Not only do they see a large area of corn mowed down in a perfect circle, they find Dell’s mother. Dell hasn’t seen her Mum since she left years before – to chase UFOs.
The only reason Mum has returned is that crop circles have been discovered in local cornfields of their small town called Tully. Dell decides not to tell her dad and 3 sisters that Mum is back in town, hoping she’ll leave as fast as she appeared. This decision backfires terribly, even though Dell just wanted to keep everyone from more heartache and disappointment.
With faithful Teddy at her side, with their entire town turning UFO crazy, and news stations flocking to Tully, Dell decides to prove the crop circles are fake. She knows that the sooner she does it, the sooner her mother will leave again, and things can get back to normal.
Review
Running In Circles is a story of family, love and how messy they can be. There are 3 generations in the mix, as grandparents come to the rescue as four sisters and their dad are tipped out of their chaotic comfort zone, as their awol mother and wife unexpectedly comes back into their lives.
Main character Dell is a character churning with complicated feelings trying to protect everyone around her. All as her best friend Teddy tries to protect her. Dell’s love of everything ‘weather’ is shared in the chapter headings.
Dell’s passion for the environment and humankind’s havoc on it, is woven effortlessly through the book. These are all reminders about what is happening around us, along with the ability to get people to believe something without scientific evidence.
Whether an event is a hoax or not is quickly swept aside by the sensationalism of it. People of the town are quick to believe media and town gossip, instead of making decisions themselves. Something for young readers to think about?
A wonderful read.
Characters
Dell – (Adelaide) Aged 12 and 2nd oldest of four siblings (sisters). She wants to be a storm chaser or a climate scientist when she grows up. Fascinated in weather science, she has built her own weather station in her front yard (in an optimal position for correct readings, of course).
Dell looks out for her younger sisters, no matter how annoying their constant squabbling is. She is increasingly worried about her 15 year old sister Summer, who she shares a bedroom with, and about the fallout her mother’s return will inevitably bring.
Teddy – Dell’s best friend. Dell sticks up for him against a verbal bully at school, as Teddy is a kind, thoughtful boy who loves frogs as much as she loves weather.
Mum – Left her family to chase UFO’s and everything connected to them. She seems oblivious to the hurt she causes coming and going, and this time is no different as she treats her youngest daughters with donuts and car rides, and confuses her eldest with possible escape.
Writing Style
Dell tells the story as it happens. She talks about her day with her sisters, her friend Teddy and going to school. Readers learn about family quirks and dynamics and day to day life in their household. She is honest about her feelings about her mother’s leaving and then return and the turmoil it causes in her family – all in the authentic voice of a 12 year old girl.
FAQs
What age is it for?
9 -12 years
Where & When is it set?
Tully – a small town in Australia
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
First person / Present Tense
Is there any Violence?
Not physical. There is a class bully who is verbally teasing a classmate.
What genre is Running in Circles?
Middle-Grade / Contemporary / Real Life
Themes
Family, Friendship, Love, Science, Alien Crop Circles, Hoax?
Is it part of a series?
No
Author
Shivaun Plozza
Publisher
University of Queensland Press
(2026, UQP, University of Queensland Press, Australia, Small Town, Aliens, UFO’s, Crop Circles, Family, Love, Complicated emotions, Siblings, Sisters, Grandparents, School, Bully, Hoax, Conspiracy, Selfishness, Environment, Science, Secret)