Leslie Bulion
Children's Book Author

Uncharted Waters
From the book jacket:
A month in a seaside cabin with a favorite uncle--most teenaged boys would be thrilled. But not Jonah. He's too busy keeping secrets.
First, there's the letter addressed to his parents from his English teacher. If Jonah's parents had seen that letter they would have cancelled their own trip and Jonah's visit to Uncle Nate.
Second is Jonah's secret reason for not joining the local swim team. He feels terrible lying to his uncle, but he can't reveal the fears that are holding him back.
And finally, Jonah convinces his little sister to keep yet another secret, one that gets him into a lot more than he bargained for during his month at the shore with Uncle Nate...

From School Library Journal:
Gr 4-8–Jonah's vacation at Uncle Nate's beach cabin is threatened when his younger sister, Jaye, discovers that he not only failed seventh-grade English, but also that he intercepted the letter informing their parents before they departed for Europe. Jaye agrees to keep the secret if Jonah lets her take his place on the local swim team, even if it means lying about her age. While their uncle is preoccupied with writing a novel, Jonah gravitates to a local marina, where he meets Bert, the grumpy shop owner, and begins doing odd jobs as payback for damaging a boat motor. Happy to be up to his elbows in grease, the mechanically inclined teen puts his academic troubles on the back burner. He also assists a pretty college student researching coexistent species in the nearby waters, and mishaps plague the pair. When she goes out alone and becomes stranded in a storm, Jonah responds in a climactic rescue. He confesses his problems to Uncle Nate, who encourages him to write a story about the summer's happenings for his teacher. Realistic details about marine biology research and boat motor mechanics are engaging, and reluctant readers, especially boys, will identify with Jonah. Add this title to survival/​adventure collections.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
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