Megan Prescott spent nearly half her life working through a bereavement process after abruptly losing both her mom and brother within a month of one another when she was at a young age. At the end of her long, sorrowful journey emerged Squirrel and Oak: A Book of Hope, a narrative in which the first-time author hopes will be used as an inspiration and lifeline for children of all ages who are saying goodbye to someone they love and are deep in their own bereavement process. “My desire is that after reading the book, young readers will breathe a sigh of relief,” says Prescott, “and be able to experience a moment of peace, comfort and hope.” Squirrel and Oak is a story about love, loss, confusion, renewal and hopefulness. It explains the death process in a heartwarming, safe way that young children as well as adults will understand and relate to. Megan’s hope is that Squirrel and Oak will allow those trapped in a state of darkness to realize that there is light on the other side if they can just work through their sorrow and move past it.
During Megan’s gradual comeback from the depths of her despair, she used writing and what she calls “grief art” to express emotions that she was having difficulty expressing in words. Additionally, the author who describes herself as optimistic, determined and compassionate, explains how truly comfortable she is now with death because of the close attention she paid to her emotional state during her journey. “I made constant mental notes of what worked for me and what didn’t and now have very concrete tools to use when helping others deal with grief,” states the writer. These tools and this general comfortableness with death helped her to solidify the story of Squirrel and Oak into a true working tool for the grief stricken. The author’s interest in writing began at a young age when her mother, Nancy, whom Prescott describes as “an amazing English teacher”, influenced her. Her mom taught her to write and had a special gift of being able to find a talent in each and every person. “My mom gave me that insight and I’m now able to inspire hundreds of children and adults to love and feel confident in making art,” states Prescott.
Squirrel and Oak, which has been 10 years in the making and changed countless times as the author worked through her grief and decided on just the right words and concepts, differs from other grief books in that it doesn’t give the reader specific answers. “I wanted to present the story symbolically and in such a way that gives the reader space,” states Prescott, “and leave it’s meaning up for individual interpretation.”
The book also incorporates the author’s own beliefs, which she acquired by observing the cycles of nature, that those who pass are still with us only in different forms. This helps many to combat the feelings of aloneness that are encountered when a loved one is no longer with them. Finally, Squirrel and Oak is a testament to the reality that something beautiful can, and did, come out of something so tragic. Megan Prescott resides in Austin Texas, continues to teach art and theater and maintains her use of writing and art as healing tools.
