COLUMBINE By Dave Cullen

Columbine

By Dave Cullen

Categories: Non-fiction, true life crime, historical

On April 20th, 1999, an American tragedy happened in a suburb of of Colorado, whose name would be remembered forever after in infamy.The slayings of thirteen high school students by two of their own classmates struck the community and the nation to its core, how could this have happened?

Dave Cullen spent ten years researching the events that unfolded in Columbine High School, what went on prior to the shootings and how the media drove the stereotypes and errors of the case into mainstream thinking. For example, when you think of Columbine, you probably associate a few things with it like “The Trench Coat Mafia”, Gothic teens, and how two teens were fed up with being bullied finally turned their pent up anger into a plan to get revenge. None of these things are factually linked to the tragedy. Even the one teen (victim Cassie Bernall) who allegedly was asked “Do you believe in God?” and replied “Yes”, only to be shot dead, did not happen that way at all. Cullen unfurls the myths and misconceptions that were thought of as commonplace to the investigation.

Based on first hand accounts of the tragedy, police and FBI reports. Cullen weaves the story of one of the most brutal, calculated killings of children. Had the murderers actual plans (also researched in depth and explained) been carried out, the death toll would have been in the hundreds. The differences in the two killers, one was in control and one might have been somewhat normal (if not depressed or suicidal) had they not met the other.  

The book also goes into detail about the lives of the victims and survivors. Their struggles after the tragedy, the way they refused to let this horrific act define them as a school, as a community. The way they took control of their lives by eventually forcing the media out, because all they wanted to do was move forward while sensationalized journalism only wanted to relive the horror.

If you are in the mood for a sobering look at one of the most unforgettable tragedies and have a strong stomach to handle the realities of such acts of brutality (with some incredibly empowering survivors and acts of kindness) then read Columbine. It was as intense as it was eye-opening.