Books with title Bug, a Bear, and a Boy

13 year-old Maurice, straddling the line between childhood and adulthood, is shocked by both his parent’s unexpected separation and by the mid-year appearance in his classroom of a new student: a large, black bear named Brock. Soon the two are spending almost all their time together. The bond between them grows as Maurice’s home life unravels. Brock’s friendship becomes an escape from the reality of his parents separation, from a bully at school, and from the general awkwardness of life. However, in the end, Maurice is forced to choose between staying in Brock’s world, which is comforting but illusory, or leaving his friend and moving toward maturity.