The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong

Well, I think I've found a good book for Reading Bowl!  The Great Wide Sea is both a compelling storyline and pretty boy-centered in a way that many young adult books are not.  Ben is the oldest of three boys who have recently lost their mother when their father suddenly decides he wants to sell the house, buy a sailboat, and spend a year sailing around the Bahamas.  The tension between Ben and his father feels very real, and the plot really gets going when his father suddenly disappears.  There is lots of action and a beautiful depiction of the love between the three brothers.  It lacks the depth for a good literature book and the details about sailing can get a bit cumbersome, but should work well for Reading Bowl.