Uncharted Waters

Most young teenage boys would love to spend a summer with a fun-loving bachelor uncle in a seaside cabin far away from the watchful eyes of their parents. But not Jonah Lander. Jonah has secrets—lots of them—and they weigh heavily on his mind. Jonah intercepted a letter to his parents from his school. Now he has work to do or else he’ll be facing remedial English in the fall, not to mention his parents’ anger. Jonah lied to his Uncle Nate about joining the local swim team. But how can he explain that he is afraid of what lurks beneath the dark salt water? Only Jaye, his ten-year-old sister, knows the truth.Then Jonah gets a job at a local marina. He discovers that he enjoys being beside the water and working with his hands, fixing motors and doing odd jobs. When he is presented with the opportunity to earn more money as a research assistant to Sumi, a college student and budding marine biologist, he jumps at it. But Jonah gets a lot more than he bargained for. Now he has to face his greatest fears and finally give up his secrets forever.

LESLIE BULION is an acclaimed author of several children's books, including TALL SHIPS FUN and FATUMA’S NEW CLOTH, winner of the African Studies Association’s 2002 Children’s Africana Books. She also writes adult educational articles. She lives with her family in Connecticut.