Max continues in this epic adventure visiting his grandfather in the Great Bear Wilderness, a region so remote that humans are the rare species, but bears are not. One particular bear, the Spirit Bear, actually a "black" bear is white and a subject of legend. Only a few have been sighted. Max's curiosity gets the better of him. He wanders from the safety of his grandfather's cabin, soon to be lost in the wilderness. A chance encounter brings Max and Tonkawa, a young Spirit Bear, together, who has also wandered away from the safety of his home. Both lost, they find each other. As night descends, they hunker down for the night, knowing their parents must be desperately looking for them. Protecting young from harm is universal amongst parents, bears and humans alike. Although Tonkawa has been taught to fear humans, and soon Max and Tonkawa find themselves depending upon each other for survival. Max and Tonkawa soon become friends and teach each other cool things that neither knew about. Soon Tonkawa learns that not all humans are dangerous to their survival. Upon being reunited, and considered naïve, Tonkawa struggles to explain to his bear clan that together - bears and humans - can help protect the Great Bear Wilderness. But all of that is soon to change when an oil tanker runs around, spilling its toxic oil, threatening the wilderness - its coast lines and the salmon runs the bears depend upon. It seems like the adult bears' fears appear justified. In a surprising alliance, Max enlists Grandpa's friends in a desperate but heroic attempt to save Great Bear Wilderness from imminent destruction. This story illustrates that the youngest - children - can teach adults, both bear and human, that our prejudices and fear of each other is not necessary. We hold in common shared interests to help protect the natural environment and ultimately each other.