Sep 30, 1999 the belated media outing of the truth about cassie bernall raises questions about why the story took so long to find its way into print. This book talks about a girl named cassie bernall that died at columbine high school, the book talks about her life from going from drugs to jesus christ and because of her faith in jesus christ she died that day april 20,1999 because she said yes. Cassies mother, misty, wrote a memoir on cassies life. Cassie rene bernall columbine high school massacre. And chris zimmerman, who edited the book for the plough publishing. It is only now, when the world knows cassie bernall as one of the columbine high students killed by two rampaging schoolmates, that the choices she.
Former columbine principal remembers and reflects on. Mar 16, 2015 the editor of misty bernalls book, chris zimmerman, says that cassies mother was candid in the book about the fact that there were differing accounts of what was said in the library and that the crux of the book is the true story of a troubled american teenager who encountered god and experienced a dramatic change that gave her the. This of course occurred during the april 1999 tragedy at columbine high. Part of the book proceeds will go to a foundation in cassie bernalls name. In the meantime, the myth gained so much traction that outlets like salon and rocky mountain news as well as misty bernalls book, she said yes. Cassie rallies with fevered altar calls erupted around the globe.
Cassie and chris parents who were religious and eventually wrote a book about cassies death. The book details the life of cassie bernall and her familys grieving process in the aftermath of her death. Chris morris friend of eric harris and dylan klebold duration. The book was an instant bestseller and misty and cassies father appeared on today, 2020 and larry king live. Cassie bernall, a 17yearold killed in the massacre, was an international sensation for about five months. Cassie and chris parents who were religious and eventually wrote a book about cassie s death. A book and a linked television drama about one of the girls killed in the columbine high school shooting in colorado last april are making 17yearold cassie bernall into a. The first book of the columbine high massacre, which hits stores today, is about.
So it seemed fitting, even in the numbness of the days after her murder, to give the new orphanage her name. In the meantime, the myth gained so much traction that outlets like salon and rocky mountain news as well as misty bernall s book, she said yes. Lauren townsend, danny rohrbough, cassie bernall and kelly fleming gravesites august 2011 duration. Cassies mom misty, dad brad, and brother chris cassie with a friend. Misty agrees, and a small christian press plans to publish the account, titled she said yes. This is the story of the 17year old high school student who was killed when she answered yes when asked if she believed in god. Cassie bernall said yes when asked about her faith by a. Myths from columbine, part two what did she really say. Sep 17, 2015 cassie bernall, a 17yearold killed in the massacre, was an international sensation for about five months. Before the truth came to light, though, cassie was hailed throughout the evangelical community as a martyr and a symbol of hope, and was the subject of a book written by her mother she said yes. Ultimately, zimmerman and the bernalls fall back on their best defense, that the book barely discusses the moment of cassies death.
Why does the columbine myth about martyr cassie bernall. The bernalls said they wanted to write a book mostly about cassies. Apr 17, 2012 cassies mother, misty bernall, published a book in september 1999 describing her daughters life and this version of her tragic death titled. However, it is fairly certain that cassie looked to these verses soon before her death. The poem above is actually a quotation from the living bible phil. Scarred columbine survivors remember 20 year anniversary. The character of cassie bernall in columbine from litcharts. According to her parents, she rebelled as a young teenager and began using drugs and alcohol. Apr 02, 2019 frank deangelis knows the pain and subsequent trauma of losing a loved one to a mass shooting he was the principal of columbine high school on april 20, 1999, when two teenage shooters opened. Told with unflinching honesty by her mother, misty bernall, cassies story is a. Cassie was born to misty and brad bernall on november 6, 1981. The unlikely martyrdom of cassie bernall 9780743400527.
Cassie bernall biograohy facts, childhood, family, death. Get beyond its title, and the book is a raw and moving account. The unlikely martyrdom of cassie bernall by misty bernall links. Along with her brother chris, she was brought up in a christian home. A matter of belief the last words of littleton victim cassie bernall test a survivors faithand charity. Sep 09, 1999 she said yes by misty bernall is a very sad book. Apr 06, 2009 but i think i felt a real sensitivity to misty bernall, cassies mom, who wrote the book and you know, by god, she meant every word of it when she wrote it, and she did not mean to mislead anyone. The young girl cassie bernall that got shot and killed in the first columbine ever in columbine high school was a very innocent young girl. The press plans a printing of 100,000 copies, and expects it to be a hit. Cassie bernall, valeen schnurr, and one of columbines.
Chris zimmerman, misty bernalls editor at plough publishing. Misty bernalls book landed on the publishers weekly. Misty bernall, cassie s mother, lives in littleton, colorado, with her husband, brad, their son, chris, and german shepherd mix, reese. Eric harris had asked bernall if she believed in god and when she responded with yes, harris shot and killed her.
The book by cassie s mother, misty bernall she said yes. The book is a remarkable story, told by a grieving mother, about how she saved her daughter. In part of this book, it explores the myth of cassie bernalls martyrdom. This obituary was originally published on april 23, 1999.
I could just imagine the scene of when the shooter holds cassie at gunpoint when she is crouched down under the library table and asks her if she believes. She said yes is an intense and fascinating memoir publishers weekly of an ordinary teenager growing up in suburban colorado, and faced as all teenagers are with difficult choices and. It is only now, when the world knows cassie bernall as one of the columbine. It peaked at the eighth spot and spent 5 weeks on the new york times best seller list. Jun 20, 2010 chris morris friend of eric harris and dylan klebold. Apr 20, 2019 conflicting witness accounts say that cassie bernall was asked by eric harris if she believed in god before she responded yes and was executed for her answer.
Cassie rene bernall columbine victim known as the girl who said yes. Cassie bernall, valeen schnurr, and one of columbines biggest. Cassie bernall deserved to have a book written about her, but if there was reason to believe that it wasnt truthful, then its a disservice to her memory and to the community. Cassie rene bernall november 6, 1981 april 20, 1999 was a student killed in the. She said yes by misty bernall, 9780743400527, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Apr 20, 2019 one stillmourning father of a victim of the columbine high school massacre still blames the killers parents for his daughter cassie bernalls tragic death 20 years ago. Both cassie and brother chris were transferred to a christian school, and. The editor of misty bernalls book, chris zimmerman, says that cassies mother was candid in the book about the fact that there were differing accounts of what was said in the library and that the crux of the book is the true story of a troubled american teenager who encountered god and experienced a dramatic change that gave her the confidence to face both her life and her death. Bernall book unveiled some wont read it book goes past teens last words. Telling cassie s story makes the loss of her daughter more bearable for misty bernall, and someone suggests she writes a book. Bpthe parents of cassie bernall have recounted their efforts to achieve accuracy in a book about their teenage daughter who was internationally called a martyr after being.
Cassie bernall was supposedly killed for refusing to renounce god, but she. It also narrates the grieving process of her family in the aftermath of her death. She said yes the unlikely martyrdom of cassie bernall by. The unlikely martyrdom of cassie bernall, was published by plough publishing and released on september 1, 1999, after a little over 4 months of her death. Im not surprised, schmich repliedconceding that she said yes, mother missy bernall s tribute to cassie, is an interesting little book, even. She told misty and brad bernall, cassies parents, the same account, and she also. Bernall and her husband, brad, issued a statement last week, defending the accuracy of the book. Brad, misty and son chris are drawn to the land where the cassie bernall home for. The martyrs song the faith of cassie bernall and her family is a legacy that inspired michael w.
Cassie bernalls parents recount efforts to achieve accuracy. The unlikely martyrdom of cassie bernall which has sold, as of the present day, over one million copies. In september 2000, bernalls mother, misty, released the book she said yes. The christian inspirational national bestseller that publishers weekly called intense and fascinating about the life of cassie bernall, a seventeenyearold teenager who professed her belief in. Publishers weekly she said yes shows how a troubled teenager can be helped, though misty bernall doesnt hold back when describing the emotional toll the process can take. She said yes is an intense and fascinating memoir publishers weekly of an ordinary teenager growing up in suburban colorado, and faced as all teenagers are with difficult choices and pressures. The book contains details of cassies life, including her rebellion during her teenage years, her spiritual side, and her faith in christianity. Mar 12, 2020 misty bernall, cassie s mother, lives in littleton, colorado, with her husband, brad, their son, chris, and german shepherd mix, reese.
From a note written by cassie the night before she was killed and handed to her friend amanda the next morning at school. Cassies mother, father, and brother still live in littleton, colorado, but homeschool chris. The book s title is a reference to bernalls final moments in the wake of the shooting. Cassie bernall was a student killed in the columbine high school shooting on april 20, 1999. Far beyond columbine, rancor and tension the new york times. Chris set the cassies cross up by the help of donna taylor of littleton, left, and greg zanis, who made the cross, right. Part of the book proceeds will go to a foundation in cassie bernall s name.
I know misty bernall, and i know details about what happened to cassie that are not being reported by the bernalls. Chris bernall, brother of columbine high school shooting. She resigned from her position at lockheed martin astronautics in october 1999 to homeschool chris and assume the role of president of the cassie bernall foundation, established in memory of ther daughter. I keep thinking about the things i need to do for cassie, cassie s mom told the oprah show in 1999. Cassie bernall a victim of columbine who allegedly professed her faith right before being shot to death. Misty bernalls book landed on the publishers weekly bestseller list at no. Book editor chris zimmerman admits there are different accounts of what happened in the library.