Alum Molly Prep Publishes Touching Memoir

Molly Prep has never stopped making Huntington High School proud. The Class of 2013’s salutatorian, she graduated from New York University magna cum laude as a University Honors Scholar, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in child and adolescent mental health studies and creative writing. She’s now a published author, too.

Ms. Prep has held several readings and signings for the well-received book titled “Cancer Angst: A Memoir.” Published in October by Babble Boox, the volume runs 451 hard hitting and emotion laden pages. It is available on Amazon and at local bookstores.

The new book chronicles Ms. Prep’s life from the day she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia as a seven year old second grader. She missed nearly an entire year of school, being educated by home tutors. Constantly in and out of the hospital, treatment continued for many years with a proverbial Sword of Damocles seemingly hanging over her head.

“We bind cancer to words of war: battle, beat, fight, and survive,” writes Ms. Prep in the new book. “We want to believe remission brings only victory marches and pride. We know that's not true for soldiers, so how can we expect the same of those at war with their bodies? When I was seven years old, I was diagnosed with cancer. Everything changed. ‘Cancer Angst’ follows my coming of age after a childhood shaped by sickness. Spanning from my second-grade diagnosis to my senior year of high school, ‘Cancer Angst’ begins in treatment, then shadows my return home, my decision to keep my past a secret, and the push and pull I felt between my sick and well selves. I had to answer an impossible question: How do we embrace what we’ve survived?”

Editor in chief of The Dispatch, the high school’s student newspaper, vice president of the National Honor Society and the English Honor Society, event chair of the 2013 Relay For Life that raised more than $158,000 for the American Cancer Society and a runner on the winter and spring track teams as well as a team manager for cross country and track, Ms. Prep enjoyed a full Huntington experience.

Writing and publishing the new book has been therapeutic in many ways. “I spent a long time thinking I was alone in trying to integrate my past with my present,” Ms. Prep said. “The more I connect with people; whether they’ve dealt with cancer or something entirely different, I’ve found we all work through who we’ve been and who we want to become.

At Huntington’s 152nd commencement, Ms. Prep gave the salutatorian’s address, urging her classmates “to never let go of your dreams.”

“Whether you want to be rich, famous, successful, loved, or a tomato, don’t let anyone tell you that your future is ridiculous,” Ms. Prep said that day. “You’ll have to work hard, and you may have days that seem hopeless, but ultimately if you want it badly enough, you hold the power to bring your dream of a brighter future to fruition.” She’s taken her own advice.

“Cancer Angst” is a book that will touch any reader of any age. “I could say I started writing this book my freshman year of college, but the truer answer is I’ve been writing this book for nearly 20 years,” Ms. Prep said. “My cancer diagnosis changed me. In treatment, of course, but after, too. I thought of survivorship with shame because it came with pain and confusion. There was a lot of silence around my cancer. We didn’t talk about it in my family. I didn’t bring it up with friends, old or new. Remission allowed me to say nothing, no matter how much it hurt. I held so many secrets. But I want this book to be an anti-secret. I decided sharing my story might be what someone else, survivor or not, needs to hear, in all its truth and hurt. Seeing the pain makes tremendous room for joy.”

The crowds at the book readings and signings have included many former classmates and teachers. “I’m so grateful to be in a place where I can share my story,” Ms. Prep said.

Readers have been willing to share their reactions online with comments that are nothing short of tear-jerking.

“I’ve read many books,” wrote an Amazon reviewer who gave Ms. Prep’s book five stars. “This book was far more than a read. Maybe it’s the style, the content, the unique voice, the story or the combination of all; but this book was something more than ‘a read.’ It was hard to put down, but when forced to, this book kept me thinking about so many different things in my life, the lives of friends and family and much, much more. It’s hard to put into words how valuable, meaningful and important this book is to me, but I have offered friends and family a money back guarantee on a purchase - if they don't love the book I have offered to donate $25 to their favorite charity (not an offer made to everyone on Amazon!). Not to worry; while I don’t think that I will need to pay up on my offer, I will be making a donation in honor of this book and the author.”

Planning is underway for more readings and signings in the coming weeks and months.