A confused adolescent boy learns that the best way to tackle life's problems is head-on. 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.Before leaving home, Jonah intercepts 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. That lie only leads to more deception. Next he lies to his Uncle Nate about joining the local swim team. Jonah feels bad, but how can he explain that he is afraid of what lurks beneath the dark salt water?Then Jonah gets a job at a local marina where he hopes to do what he enjoys-working with his hands and fixing motors. He even has his eye on getting his own motorboat, but he isn't earning much doing odd jobs. When Sumi, a college student and budding marine biologist, asks him to be her research assistant, he jumps at the chance to make more money. But once Jonah signs on as her workboat crew, he gets into a lot more than he bargained for. Soon he will have to face his greatest fears and finally give up his secrets forever.Bulion's satisfying middle-grade novel is further enhanced by a rich ensemble of supporting characters, interesting facts about marine life, and a text that perfectly captures the special rhythms of small town seaside living.