Manchester Teen's Book Explores Tragedy, Healing Through Kids' Eyes

MANCHESTER, CT — A Manchester teen has written a book that aims to make sense of tragedy through the eyes of a child and to pave a path to recovery as a result.

Samantha Mitchell remembers the horrible day that led to her writings all too well.

It was Jan. 4, 2017. Barry "Mitch" Mitchell, a respected and beloved member of the Manchester High School security staff, collapsed on campus after suffering a medical issue. He was taken to Manchester Memorial Hospital, but did not survive.

It was her dad.

"I was in third grade then," the now-17-year-old Samantha said. "It was earth-shattering ... terrible. It broke my heart in a million pieces. I was screaming, crying. My stomach hurt I was in so much pain."

It is generally regarded as one of the saddest days ever at MHS, but out of it all has come a book written by Samantha called "Finding Light In Darkness: A Daughter's Healing." It went on sale at Amazon Books late last month.

"I was in shock for many months because it just hits you ... it's crazy," Samantha said.

As she tried to calm her nerves after her dad's passing, Samantha said she had a revelation of sorts.

"I decided I really wanted to to help kids — and adults — with their feelings," she said.

So Samantha began writing down her thoughts, not only as a healing element, but as a guide for herself and perhaps others who may have experienced something similar. The result was a 139-page book that explores grief and recovery through the eyes of a child. The notes have come to life in the book — seven years after the tragedy.

"I wanted to explore what a parent was thinking, what a kid might be thinking ... and validate the thoughts a kid would be having," Samantha said. "I haven't seen a book like this that deals with children's grief."

Samantha said she received a computer for her 11th birthday and, "said to myself that I wanted to to do something meaningful with it."

So ...

"I put my story out there to help people," she said.

The words flowed so freely that not much was done at the editing desk, she said.

"I finished the whole manuscript, brought it to an editor and we went though it," Samantha said. "We really didn't do too much because we wanted to keep a child's voice and perspective."

One major segment is on counseling, she pointed out.

"I wanted to emphasize it," Samantha said. "We tried counseling with just my mom, brother and I and then I went to group counseling. The counseling sessions with just the three of us I didn't really like ... I wasn't helping," she said. "At the group sessions, being with families really helped. The group also gave me validation on how kids felt. I wanted to tell people in the book that, if one way doesn't work, there is always another route and emphasize that validation. "

Samantha is now a junior at Manchester high School. She passes the tribute to her dad on a daily basis.

"Every day, when I enter the building, I go by the showcase. I can say hi in the morning and 'see you later' when I exit," she said. "Normally he would be there, but now I have his memorial case that is part of the community support."

The writing developed that outlook, she said, calling it, "a therapeutic reflection on my journey."

The book delves into both flashbacks and flash-forwards, one of which was a kiss goodnight the day before the tragedy.

"My dad gave me a kiss on the forehead the night before," she said. "In my nine-year-old brain (after the bad news), I thought I might die, too, because I felt like poison may have seeped through my skin."

She now says, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe I tried to keep that a secret," but it came at the end of a chaotic day and plenty of days to follow. At first, the Mitchells thought it might be an uncle who was taken to the hospital, because he, too, was working at MHS. But, inevitably, it was Mitch.

"So I wrote about examples of a kid's logic — the kiss, the funeral at which I had a present for him in case he woke up," Samantha said. "It was horrible to go through, but now I feel good being a published author, because I might be able to help people in the book by validating the thoughts of those who have gone through the same thing."

Samantha said she is at peace at MHS. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the MHS PAWS Club to name two activities and, as a junior, she said she is ready to complete her high school journey and then go on to college. Emerson is one place she has looked at, though a major is undecided for now.

The book billing calls "Finding Light In Darkness: A Daughter's Healing" an "account of the rise and fall of life," something Samantha insists is real and not a marketing slogan. She said "tons" of orders have been placed so far.

"It really is validation," she said. "And I want to pass that on to others."

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"Finding Light In Darkness: A Daughter's Healing" is available in paperback for $12.99 at Amazon Books by clicking here.