Review brief: Running in Circles by Shivaun Plozza

# What this book is about Running in Circles follows 12-year-old Dell, a determined, evidence-driven kid who loves studying weather and climate. When crop circles start appearing in her hometown of Tully, she sees a simple scientific explanation where others see mystery and aliens. Dell's approach to problems is methodical: research, facts, and an insistence on logical causes.

# Central conflict The plot gains force when Dell's mother—who left the family years earlier—returns full of extraterrestrial theories and an associate who raises suspicions. Her reappearance unsettles the family and the town. Dell's father and extended family have been coping in her absence, but the mother's charisma and theatrical claims stir public panic about the "visitors." Dell finds herself fighting both the misinformation spreading around town and the emotional damage her mother's behavior causes at home.

# Characters and relationships Dell: bright, blunt, and honest. Her practical scientific mindset clashes with the spectacle her mother creates. She's stubborn and outspoken, sometimes lacking tact, but that trait helps her see through deception.

Dell's mother: charming and persuasive, yet unreliable. She returns with UFO beliefs and a tendency to vanish again, repeating a pattern of abandonment.

# Themes and tone

Science versus belief is handled accessibly: Dell is portrayed as a budding scientist who values research and critical thinking. The story also addresses self-belief, integrity, and the importance of standing up for truth when others are swept up in sensational claims.

# Setting and audience

Target audience: middle-grade readers aged 10 and up (recommended for Year 4 and above). The protagonist and pacing suit readers who enjoy mysteries grounded in science and family drama.

# Publication details

# Why a reader might pick it up Choose this book if you want a middle-grade story that mixes a believable young science mind with a family drama about abandonment and the social effects of conspiracy theories. Dell's plainspoken, evidence-first perspective offers a constructive model for readers who like smart protagonists who solve problems through research rather than bravado.