A review by ajreads
Troubled Waters by Mary Annaïse Heglar

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Troubled Waters is a unique story about environmental justice, family, grief, and how we as humans, continue to persevere through difficult times via community and family. 

This multigenerational book follows granddaughter Corinne and grandmother Cora as they come to terms with the loss of Corinne’s brother, who died while working on an oil boat. With the backdrop of both Mississippi and Louisiana, Corinne is on a mission to illuminate the dangers of big oil on the environment, and climate change, and to show that her brother’s life mattered.  

Grandmother Cora is a loving, stoic, complex character who due to her life experience has tried to hide the traumatic parts of her past growing up in the South during the Civil Rights Movement, including integration. 

The relationship between granddaughter and grandmother is a unique and special one. you truly see how much they love each other although displayed in opposite ways. 

This book is emotional and raw. I loved the representation of climate anxiety and the dangers of the fossil fuel industry. It also displays how young people actively organize and fight for the future they deserve. One of my favorite quotes from the book was, “The only thing that scared her more than global warming was becoming apathetic and complacent”.