Two stories

Breathing Under Water follows two very different women, making it an engaging novel that would be an excellent choice for a multigenerational book club or a parent-older teen discussion.

As a middle-aged educator, I found myself relating to Berry, an assistant principal at a private school. She is ambitious and eager to advance her career, yet struggles with the guilt of knowing that a promotion would leave her with less time for her high school-aged autistic son. Berry’s marriage also takes an unexpected turn when her husband begins hiding his phone and his location no longer matches where he claims to be. The mystery isn’t what readers might expect, but it adds an intriguing layer of suspense.

Alternating chapters tell the story of McKenna, a college student balancing the pressures of being a scholar-athlete while caring for her grandmother. Although she excels as a competitive swimmer, she no longer enjoys the sport. Through McKenna, Friedland explores timely issues including student homelessness, the influence of college coaches, and the staggering cost of higher education.

Jewish identity

I especially appreciated that Berry’s Jewish identity is woven naturally into the story. It informs who she is without becoming the focus of her challenges, allowing her to be portrayed as a fully realized character whose Judaism is simply one part of her life.

How do these two women, at such different stages of life, become connected? I’ll leave that for readers to discover.

I recommend Breathing Under Water to anyone who enjoys contemporary realistic fiction, especially readers interested in nuanced family relationships and a thoughtful portrayal of a high-functioning autistic teenager.

Mindy the Book Yenta’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jewish Rating: ✡✡

Mindy Holland, “Mindy the Book Yenta.”

Mindy Miner Holland is a school librarian at Shenendehowa Schools. She is the board chairwoman of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY. She is a past president of Congregation Gates of Heaven. She earned her master’s degree in library science from the University at Albany.