Kehuan has no place he could call his own. ​​That's why he needs his own person.

When he lands in yet another foreign city, a lone, angry boy with no friends or real family, his future looks bleak. But then this carefree little street child appears on his path, with her bright eyes and sunny smile.

They come from different worlds, but does it really matter? Niki needs someone who'd look out for her, and Kehuan seems the only candidate for the job. The strange pair soon becomes inseparable, and the bond between them starts to shape their entire lives, extending to other people around and fusing them all together into a unique modern clan.

That’s when the catastrophe strikes.

It leaves the new family in pieces and shatters Niki’s life for years to come. But she’s a survivor, and she still has Kehuan, ready to tackle every problem that comes her way. Until one day he becomes the problem.

They managed to survive the first disaster, but this second one, called growing up, may just do what nothing and no one ever could: tear them apart.

editorial reviews

​"Stanhoff creates a wonderfully evocative tale of two children whose connections turn their lives upside down in unexpected ways. (...)
Readers looking for novels replete in cultural experiences, identification, and social inspection will find "The Trouble with Belonging" compelling, warming, and thought-provoking, all in one." ~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
 

"I love this story that is simple yet so profound. (...) They say family isn't always made of blood. Some families are made by bond. And this is also a major theme of the story. The angst of the characters and storyline aren't overdone, the dialogue is natural and believable, and Stanhoff knows how to use sentimentality in just the right places without being saccharin. (...) The pace is perfect, and the notes of friendship and belonging ring out strongly." ~ Readers' Favorite
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"A vivid and raw story of the realities of growing up as an outcast and learning to navigate life with a sense of purpose and belonging. Readers will be captivated by its down-to-earth and engaging story of turbulent teenage love, loss, and identity." ~ Literary Titan