When Noah Whitmore's teenage cousin Lukas turned up on his doorstep one day, it was a life-defining moment for both of them. As a single, thirty-something teacher with a personal life that was akin to a vacuum, Noah now found that he had someone in his life that needed direction; he could be the father figure that would provide it. With neither of Lukas' parents interested in having custody of him, it fell to Noah to be there when it was soccer practice, auditioning for the school play or the chance for adventure in far-flung Switzerland. This bittersweet story of self-discovery, family, and identity is told in My Life with Lukas (On Topanga Canyon Boulevard): Junior Year through twelve short stories and is one that provides moments of reflective sadness, but also of enduring hope that is always present when two kindred souls collide.