The Way Home: An Illustrated Storybook for Children Navigating Traumatic Loss
No child should be left alone in the dark at one of the saddest times in their lives. When children face grief, their questions are often bigger than the answers. One of the most painful is: “If they loved me so much, why did they leave me?”
Clinical Psychologist and mother Dr. Trudy Meehan wrote The Way Home to help families begin answering these questions. Inspired by her personal experience after her daughter’s father died by suicide, the book uses the gentle metaphor of an astronaut lost in space—whose hope is too small and pain too big—to show how sometimes pain can be stronger than love. “A tender beautiful story showing us that even when we feel lost in the darkness, love can still find us” Prof. Ciaran O’ Boyle, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Illustrated by Fergal O’Connor, the story creates a safe space where children can see their experiences represented, feel less stigmatised, and open conversations with the adults who support them. “Children need stories where they can see themselves, where their sadness is acknowledged and they are reminded they are not alone. The Way Home is that story.” – Dr. Trudy Meehan
Key Features
- Provides language for difficult “why” questions after loss.
- Offers metaphors that comfort children and adults.
- Creates opportunities for conversation and connection.
- Reminds us that even in the hardest moments, love can guide us home.
- Allows young people to choose their own ending, giving a sense of control.
Community Support
The Way Home was made possible through the support of the Irish Hospice Foundation, Creative Ireland, GoFundMe donors, the Castlebridge Primary School community, and the Natural Health Store in Wexford.
Availability
Free download: RCSI Repository
TEDx Talk: Watch here
About the Author
Contact -Tel: 083 8718671; email:
Dr. Trudy Meehan is a Clinical Psychologist, Lecturer in the Centre for Positive Health Sciences, and founder of Heart Ears Press. Her personal and professional experiences of grief inform her writing.
About the Illustrator
Contact – Email: Website: https://fergoconnor.com/
Fergal O’Connor is an acclaimed Irish illustrator known for his evocative and imaginative artwork in children’s literature.
More images of illustrations, author and illustrator available at: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/mjs3u5yy0pjlvmbcbia7r/APiE3i01Q5ekoRHS40pqA6k?rlkey=6r2lzsdekv9at217kvpnz1fvn&st=bsikanj7&dl=0