Author Talk | Jacqueline Friedland | “Breathing Under Water”

“Breathing Under Water” | Fiction A Zibby Owens Most Anticipated Book of Summer 2026, this heartfelt novel follows two women facing family, financial, and personal challenges whose lives intersect through a teen with autism. A moving story of resilience, connection, and discovering that those who need saving can become saviors themselves. A Jewish Book Council Program. (THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY READS SELECTION & BOOK 1 IN THE WELL-READ BOOK CLUB) Festival Passholder: $0 | Get yours HERE! General Admission: $10 This event is a part of the 28th Annual Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts About the Book | "Breathing Under Water" The current is threatening to pull them under. Berry thought she had it figured out—juggling her vice-principal role while raising her sixteen-year-old autistic son, Leo. But when a promotion opportunity collides with her family's deepest needs, she must confront whether she's been fighting the wrong battles all along. McKenna is drowning. Between caring for her grandmother with dementia, losing her swimming scholarship, and facing homelessness, the college student's carefully constructed world is crumbling. Her only lifeline? Teaching swim lessons to children with autism—including Leo. As these two women's paths converge in the most unexpected way, they discover that sometimes the people who need saving the most are the ones who end up saving you. A deeply moving exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and the extraordinary connections that emerge when we're brave enough to let others see our struggles. About the Author | Jacqueline Friedland Jacqueline Friedland holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from NYU Law School. She practiced as an attorney in New York before returning to school to recieve her MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in New York with her husband, four children, and two dogs.