Dirt circus league by Maree Kimberley

I was hooked right from the Prologue as I read about the Surgeon grafting the eyes of birds onto the forehead of a young man. The action then turned to Asa, a bitter young woman on her way to live with a father that she did not know. She is angry and afraid, but willing to make a fresh start in the tiny outback town of Dirt Creek. Her neighbour Karen helps her to fit in but when the Dirt Circus League arrive, she is mesmerised by Quarter the leader of this notorious band of fighters and the thought of belonging to a family of teenage misfits.

Dirt Circus League is a fascinating mixture of thriller, coming of age and climate change activism. When violent fights, a very strange and dangerous cult worshipping Gaia and a heroine who has a touch of the sight is added to the mix, a gripping and unique story results. It is not for the faint hearted. The descriptions of the fights, the Surgeon's procedures, and the beliefs of the cult about The Time of the Return when no one lives beyond the age of 20 are quite frightening as is the Meat House where the Surgeon lives, described in the author's blog.

Asa is seeking resolution to her anger and her desire to belong. Hints are gradually revealed about why she is so angry and why she is living with her father who is more interested in going to the pub than getting to know his daughter. Karen offers her a home and a chance to understand connection to country, but Asa decides to join the Dirt Circus League. It is here that she finds her voice and courage to tell the truth about the cult's beliefs and try and rescue some of the members. She must fight her anger and her attraction to Quarter and be true to her inner integrity. One quote that caught my eye was the view that if you could fall in love, you could join a cult, and Asa is astute enough to realise that acting on her attraction to Quarter may not be the best outcome for her.

Extensive teacher's notes give insight into the novel which could be a challenging book for a class or small discussion group with its themes of belonging, power, anger management, science and ethics and connection to country. Readers interested in cults may like to read Boundless sublime by Lili Wilkinson.

Themes: Cults, Science and ethics, Belonging, Connection to country, Violence, Fighting.

Pat Pledger