Books about Columbine written by survivors
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Surviving Columbine: How Faith Helps Us Find Peace When Tragedy Strikes (Jan. 1, 2004) was written by Liz Carlston, who was a junior at Columbine High School and in class the morning of the fatal shootings. She was evacuated early, but has a lot to tell about what it was like to live through that horrific day. Fellow Columbine classmates and friends of Liz's - Amber Huntington and Michael Johnson - both were at Columbine that day as well, and share their experiences through Liz Carlston's book. Also details how all three were doing 5 years after the attack.
The proceeds from sales of new copies go to Liz.
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Marked For Life : Choosing Hope and Discovering Purpose After Earth-Shattering Tragedy (Mar. 5, 2006) was written by Crystal Woodman Miller (with Ashley Wiermski) about how surviving the Columbine shooting led her to religion. Includes details about her personal experience in the school library and immediately afterward, when news crews were clamoring for a scoop from victims.
Proceeds from sales go to Crystal.
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I Asked, God Answered : A Columbine Miracle (Oct. 24, 2006) is a book by injured survivor Mark Taylor. In it he describes how his horrific experience being shot at Columbine brought him closer to God. He also talks about the film he appeared in, Bowling for Columbine, and how he felt duped by the director.
This book is no longer in print. Hard copies are very expensive now, and sales do not benefit Mark Taylor or his family.
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Over My Shoulder : A Columbine Survivor's Story of Resilience, Hope, and a Life Reclaimed (Mar. 22, 2019) was written by Kacey Ruegsegger Johnson, a survivor of the Columbine shooting who was in the library during the fatal attack. She was shot in the shoulder by Eric Harris while she was hiding next to Steve Curnow, who was shot and killed. In this book, Kacey describes her life before and after the tragedy and gives an incredibly detailed account of what happened inside Columbine's library during the horrific event.
Money from the sale of this book goes directly to Kacey.
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They Call Me Mr. De: The Story of Columbine's Heart, Resilience, and Recovery (Mar. 31, 2019) written by Frank DeAngelis, the man who was principal of Columbine during and after the shootings. It's a personal account of the tragedy that takes readers through the day of the shooting and the struggles he faced over the years that followed.
Proceeds go to charity, including the Columbine Memorial.
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A Kids Book About School Shootings (Jan. 1, 2021) was written by Crystal Woodman Miller, a survivor of the Columbine tragedy who was in the library during the shootings. This book is aimed at helping kids and adults understand and prepare for such an attack, and to never let fear of what could happen take control.
Money from sales goes to Crystal.
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Books about Columbine written by friends and families of victims
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She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall (Sept. 1, 1999) was written by Misty Bernall, mother of slain victim Cassie Bernall. The book was written before the Columbine Report was released, when it was widely believed that Cassie was "the girl who said 'yes'". In years since, it's been clarified that Cassie never said those words, but her mother stands by her book as an inspirational tale even though she has accepted the reality. In an interview post-Report, Misty told the press that it didn't matter who had said "yes" if it helped even one person feel better.
New book sales support Cassie's family.
Who really did said yes? According to witnesses and the Columbine Report, shooting survivor Valeen Schnurr.
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Chain Reaction : A Call To Compassionate Revolution (Apr. 1, 2001) was written by Darrell Scott, father of Rachel Scott. In it he describes how his daughter and shooter Eric Harris both wanted to start a "chain reaction". In Rachel's case, she wanted to inspire others to do good. Darrell Scott uses the book as a platform to discuss "Rachel's Challenge" - a posthumous call to all teens to try and make a difference for the better in the world today.
Money from sales of new books go to Rachel's family.
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Dave Sanders : Columbine Teacher, Coach, Hero (June 11, 2004) was written by Marilyn Saltzman and Dave's wife, Linda Lou Sanders. Saltzman was a manager in the Communications Services Department of Jefferson County Schools, where Columbine High School is located, for twenty years. She met Linda through the unfortunate death of Dave Sanders. They became friends and wrote this book together to commemorate Dave's life and his final act of self-sacrifice.
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The Journals of Rachel Scott : A Journey of Faith at Columbine High (Real Diary of Faith) (Jan. 12, 2009) is a book by Rachel Scott's mother, Beth Nimmo, adapted from Rachel's diary entries to emphasize the teen's relationship with God and her commitment to the Christian way of life. Includes space for the reader to journal their own thoughts and feelings inspired by writing prompts. Written in a first-person writer-to-reader format that invites teens to consider important issues that affect their daily lives.
Money from sales of new books go to Rachel's family.
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Rachel's Tears 10th Anniversary Edition : The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott (Feb. 16, 2009) is a book written by Rachel Scott's mom, Beth Nimmo, and her father, Darrell Scott. In it they talk about Rachel's life and how it - and her death - impacted the people who loved her. It's a spiritual book that contains excerpts from Rachel's diary and artwork she drew before her untimely death.
Money from sales of new books go to Rachel's family.
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Walking in Daniel's Shoes (Apr. 20, 2012) was written by Daniel's father, Tom Mauser, who actually walked in his son's sneakers while he traveled around, sharing his experiences. The book details how he became a gun control advocate in the wake of the shootings, how his family adopted a daughter from China and what happened when Tom finally met with the families of the two gunmen who killed his son.
Proceeds from new book sales go to Daniel Mauser's family.
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Heaven’s Flower (Nov. 14, 2013) written by Dawn Anna, mother of slain victim Lauren Townsend. Based on the loss of her daughter, Dawn Anna tells the story of an old gardner who nurtures a seed that has taken root in her garden.
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Books about Columbine written by other authors
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Far From the Tree : Parents, Children and the Search for Identity (Nov. 13, 2012) was written by Andrew Solomon. It is a book that studies parents who have accepted their children in spite of things about them that others would find tragic or horrifying. In it, he interviews the parents of Dylan Klebold. It is the first time Sue Klebold talks openly about her son's part in the shootings at Columbine.
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A Mother's Reckoning : Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy (Feb. 15, 2016) was written by Susan Klebold, mother of shooter Dylan Klebold. Published against the wishes of her then-husband and surviving son, the book explores questions Sue grapples with following the tragedy. Were there signs she missed? What could she have done differently? How could her child be responsible for such a horrible event? Proceeds from the book go to charity.
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No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine High School (Oct. 1, 2002) was written by Brooks Brown, a former friend of both shooters and the boy that Eric Harris told to "go home" right before the assault on Columbine began. Brooks knew Dylan Klebold from early on, and this book provides a glimpse at Dylan's life as a child and the young man he was before he became a notorious killer. This book also has information about what Brooks has done since the shootings, and how the tragic event affected him.
If you look at the comments on this book's Amazon page, you'll see some of what Randy Brown - Brooks' father - has to say about the book and about Columbine.
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The Martyrs' Torch (Jan. 1, 2000) was written by Bruce Porter, the pastor who presided over victim Rachel Scott's funeral. In it, he uses the lessons of Columbine to preach hope and inspiration to others.
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Columbine (Apr. 3, 2009) was written by Dave Cullen who wrote for Salon.com when the Columbine shootings happened. He wrote several news articles about the event and aftermath. The book contains some inaccuracies, but is well-intentioned and does contain plenty of useful information in it. The book made the best-seller list and even caught Oprah's attention.
Some of the families of Columbine have expressed frustration with the book, including Randy Brown and Beth Nimmo, who complain about the book's accuracy. Tom Mauser, father of victim Daniel Mauser, corrected some errors via Salon.com. A revised 25th anniversary edition will be published in December of 2023.
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Columbine : A True Crime Story (Feb. 18, 2014) was written by Jeff Kass, a former reporter for Rocky Mountain News. This book looks at fifteen years of research into the Columbine tragedy and explores violence, racism, parenting, and other subjects relevant to what happened at the school on that tragic day.
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After Columbine, A Schoolplace Violence Prevention Manual...Written by an Expert Who Was There (Sept. 15, 1999) was written by police psychologist Dr. Kelly Zinna, the founder of Violence Prevention and Intervention, a psychological firm based in Denver, Colorado. . It is intended to give school administrators, teachers, counselors, psychologists, and parents a tool to understanding school violence and nipping it in the bud before get grows to Columbine proportions. Provides training materials and guidance to those wanting to form threat management and violence assessment teams.
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This Is Your Time : Make Every Moment Count (Apr. 11, 2001), written by composer Michael W. Smith, wears the same name as the title song from a CD of his. The book tells how the composer wrote the song which was dedicated to the lives lost at Columbine.
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(Sept. 15, 1999) was written by police psychologist Dr. Kelly Zinna, the founder of Violence Prevention and Intervention, a psychological firm based in Denver, Colorado. . It is intended to give school administrators, teachers, counselors, psychologists, and parents a tool to understanding school violence and nipping it in the bud before get grows to Columbine proportions. Provides training materials and guidance to those wanting to form threat management and violence assessment teams.