Lost Boys examines the effects of the demands of the corporate world on the family and the problems of parenting in a dangerous world. Step Fletcher, newly minted Ph.D., has been forced to take a job at a software company. Previously, Step had worked at home and lived on the proceeds of Hacker Snack, a best-selling computer game he had designed almost as a hobby. But in the ever-changing world of computers, his game had become old news and sales had dropped precipitously. In order to support his pregnant wife and three children, Step takes a job at Eight Bits, Inc. writing technical manuals because it pays well.

The first conflict comes when he must move his family from Vigor, Indiana to Steuben, North Carolina. Step feels optimistic about the job, but sorry to uproot his family. In Steuben, he immediately runs into another job-family...