Voyage of the Frog (by Gary Paulsen)

Most young readers enjoy fast-moving adventure stories, and reluctant readers need such fare to help them experience the excitement that can be found in books. Gary Paulsen satisfies these needs, and does it with first-rate writing and interesting information as well.

The author respects his teenage character enough to portray the boy's fear, but also enough to show him conquering his fear with intelligence and courage. Coping with an apparent attack by a shark, a near collision with a huge oil tanker, and an escort of killer whales, David learns to use his limited knowledge of the sea to survive. In doing so, he begins to understand his uncle's desire to spend his life studying, to learn everything he possibly can learn in his lifetime, offering an excellent example to young readers without lecturing them. By the time David has won his battle to save his little boat and survive, he has reached a new maturity that allows him to turn down the offer of rescue.