group of outcasts in a desert-like dystopia, circus training or hideout in a mountain, someone gets hurt and rescued boy is at fault

[Emily]

I can't remember when I read this book, but it was likely something published within the last ten years. I believe it was a children's book, but I can't remember the cover at all since I'm not entirely sure I'm not mixing two books up.

The main character is a boy from the mainstream society but for some reason he becomes exiled or leaves. He ends up being rescued by a girl from a group of outcasts living in a mountain hideout. The outcasts train for the circus inside this hideout and the boy feels like he is better than them because he came from mainstream society - he still hasn't accepted that he is now an outcast like them and his worldviews are still that of when he was living in the city. I seem to remember that someone gets hurt in some sort of freak accident while training and the boy had something to do with it.

I remember a dystopian desert society but this is the bit that could be from another book entirely. Since I don't really know if I'm mixing plot lines up, if you have any ideas at all, even if it doesn't fit the description perfectly, your suggestions would be appreciated :)

[Emily]

30 day bump :)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Emily, are you still looking for this or did you find it?