The Liberty Circle [Paperback]

"...the pace is fast, the material gripping, the style direct and absorbing. The Liberty Circle will spark many a spirited discussion." -- Quill and Quire

Life at home isn't easy for sixteen-year-old Corey. When he sees an ad for a retreat called Camp Liberty, he can't wait to get away. But Corey has no idea of what he's in for, as he and his fellow campers are brainwashed into joining a racist Aryan cult. In the end, he not only hurts his family and friends but is also forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about himself. And there's another price to be paid; the Liberty Circle knows he's betrayed them, and they're coming after him...

For ages 13 and up

Corey, 16, from a rough background, becomes embroiled in a neo-Nazi organization, alienating his family and friends. He is set back on the right path, but pays for his mistake as the thugs come after him. Then it's time to fight for his life and the things he really believes in...

Phil Campagna was born in Calgary, Alberta. He is the author of the young adult novels, The Freedom Run and The Liberty Circle, which was shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Book Award. He lives in Saskatoon.

I was about to ask what the Liberty Circle was when we were interrupted by a commotion. Someone was approaching from camp-fast. Whoever it was crashed right through the brush, ignoring the zigzagging trail. Then we heard a wail like a yowling cat, and voices muffled by the forest.

Allan stood, his face the colour of paper. He looked like he expected a bear to come racing out on the wrong side of the fence. But a yellow-shirted woman appeared instead and ran straight across to the gate.

"No-o-o-o!" she cried, struggling with a padlock. "It's got to open!"

Now I expected a bear, but the only thing that followed was more yellow-shirted campers.

"Angie, wait!"

"Don't run from us, Angie, please - we're your friends!"

"Angie, you don't understand!"

They swooped on her, five in all, as she started to climb the gate. Her cries turned to screams, and there was no doubting the reality of the tears streaming down her face. It took all of them holding her firmly to lead her back up the trail. One, a big guy with a beard, smiled back at Allan.

"It's okay, Brother. We'll take care of her."

"Take her to Palmer," Allan replied. "She needs reinforcement." In a low voice, he added, "I told you..."

The beard nodded, and the yellow-shirts vanished up the trail with their human cargo. We could still hear her cries, though-and then suddenly they were forming words:

"Run! Get away! They want to change your minds! They want-"

Her voice was cut off abruptly. In a few seconds, the forest was as silent as before.

"What the hell was that all about?" Tony demanded. We looked to Allan for an explanation.

He seemed embarrassed and glanced at Julie nervously. "Angie is... Well, she's-"

"Sick," Julie put in. "Very sick, actually."

"Is it...drugs?" asked a girl from Cabin Nine.

Julie nodded. "I'm afraid so, Diane. We are...working with Angie, trying to get her back into the mainstream of life. She's actually been doing quite well. It's just that now and then she has these..."

"Setbacks," Allan supplied.

With that explained, we rose to return to camp. We started out silently, subdued by what we'd seen, until Allan and Julie insisted we sing. That's not easy when you're jogging, but everyone seemed to warm into it after a while. Everyone but me, that is.