Gentle Ben

WHEN 13 YEAR OLD MARK ANDERSON'S BROTHER DIED, MARK BEFRIENDED BEN, AN ORPHANED ALASKAN BROWN BEAR, CRUELLY CHAINED UP IN A NEIGHBOR'S DARK SHED. THOUGH BROWNIES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE LARGEST AND MOST DANGEROUS OF NORTH AMERICAN ANIMALS, MARK'S PARENTS LET HIM KEEP THE IMPROBABLE PET-UNTIL ONE NIGHT, WHEN, ENRAGED BY A GROUP OF DRUNKEN MEN, BEN NEARLY KILLS HIS FORMER OWNER.