In 1974, when thirteen-year-old Charlie Hall's mother dies and his father retreats into silent grief, Charlie finds himself drifting, nearly friendless, through a northern Idaho junior high school but when a grizzly bear saves his life, Charlie forms an unusual friendship that changes his life.

When Grizzly Bear shows up at his campfire unexpectedly, Roscoe the raccoon graciously offers him a s'more, and when additional hungry guests arrive, he happily makes s'more after s'more.