"Troubled Waters" by Maisha Mahalia is a gripping tale of Maija Minor, a fourteen-year-old girl uprooted from Queens, New York, to Colorado Springs due to her mother's new marriage. Struggling with the upheaval Maija forms a rebellious bond with a neighbor, Misty. As Maija navigates her tumultuous teenage years, she faces numerous challenges, adapting to her new step-family when she moves to live with her father, Ivory. A dangerous attraction from her uncle, Craig and the complexities of young love with A.J. when she is displaced again with her grandmother, Nonna. Amidst the chaos, Maija's resilience shines as she strives to overcome her past, find stability, and build a future for herself and her son, Tahir. This compelling narrative explores themes of family, survival, and the quest for a better life.