She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall

Dont read this!!!

Like the Rachel Scott book, this incident is based on events that witnesses don't claim actually happened. the exchange between the gunmen and Bernall is claimed to have happened only by students who weren't in the library and didn't actually witness it take place themselves. It is disturbing how the Christian movement latched onto these two girls deaths and the fabricated events surrounding their murders. While their deaths were tragic what is more tragic is how they have been propped up and used as poster children for the "paranoia" of the Christian community about being persecuted for their religion.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Based on a lie

I am sorry for the mother of this girl that she had such a grievous loss, however, the entire premise of this book is based on a media-hype lie. Read Dave Cullin's book, Columbine, for the the most factual accounts of the entire incident. The killings had nothing to do with anti-God killers, and Cassie never said "yes," or was asked any questions by Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold.

5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book is not relevant anymore

After reading Dave Cullen's book, "Columbine" you will realize that the incident with Cassie never happened. The poor girl never had the time to speak to Eric Harris, as he shot her in the head before she had time to speak to him. The events that led to Csssie's death are horrible, but the "She said yes," myth needs to be once and for all put aside - it did not happen, so the basic premise of this book is not factual.

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

She didn't say Yes; Seek the REAL truth

I remember getting this book as birthday gift when I was 12 or 13, as the shootings occurred near my birthday (April 17) and initially I was moved by the book; little did I know it was a fabrication. But honestly, when I was that young, everything I knew about the Columbine tragedy was misconstrued by the media's false doings; I didn't know what REALLY happened. But now, I'm nearly 21, I'm doing a research paper on Columbine and I'm discovering what really happened. Yes, it's a tragedy that she died but why base a book on a complete fabricated LIE. She never said yes and she wasn't sitting in the library, but hiding underneath the tables. Also, as another reviewer mentioned, another girl (Valeen) said yes and wasn't killed. Harris and Klebold didn't kill her because she was christian, they simply killed her b/c she they felt like killing anybody that day; she was just one of their innocent victims. I find it utterly disgusting that her parents capitalized on her death based on a lie. Cassie was an innocent victim, NOT a martyr.
I recommend reading any work by Dave Cullen, who was a reporter the day the incident occurred. He also has a new book coming out called 'Columbine.' I can't wait to read it to finally discover the REAL truth.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Does this still have any merit?

This year, "Columbine" by Dave Cullen was released providing a final overarching account of the shootings at Columbine High. In part of this book, it explores the myth of Cassie Bernall's "martyrdom." Multiple witness testimonies and 911 tapes corroborate the story that Cassie didn't say "Yes" was not asked about her belief in God. If anything this book should be called "He said 'peekaboo.'" What's more tragic is the account of another girl who WAS asked, Valeen Schnurr, was decried by Cassie fans as being a copycat.
Skip this book, if anything read it to see how no one should read too much into what their teen is doing, since Cassie was involved in writing letters that sound remarkably similar to those that Eric Harris and Dylan Kleibold wrote.
This violent act was a tragedy, but the Evangelical push to use it to their movement's gain was shameless at best. The real story has enough inspirational deeds and messages; skip this false account of martyrdom.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Work of fiction.

While a touching story, this book is based on an incident that never occurred. Written mere months after the massacre, while investigators were still trying to make sense of it all and very little was being released to families and the media, an account of Bernall's martyrdom spun out of control. Further investigation definitively proved the account was incorrect. This story of inspiration never happened, and only further led to a gross misunderstanding of what occurred at Columbine.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

cass cass's book

To the millions who have read this book. My name is trac and I am her cousin. 10 years later we are so still heart broken shes gone but incredibly proud of her and her choice. For me I know the only way I've been able to cope is knowing that no matter what anyone writes about columbine. It's a plain and very simple fact that columbine was a holy jihad we have evidence of that. that what human choice and plain evil intended, God intervened and layed his gracious hand on this school and stopped what could have been a total devastation of mass death and destruction. The death and injuries could have been substantially worse. Rachel Scott went out for christ, John tomlin left his bible open in his truck that morning, Daniel Mauser, on account, was throwing chairs at the killers telling them it didn't have to be this way. Daniel Roughbough held the door for others and in his kindness lost his life, Dave sanders stayed with his students until he knew they were safe and then left this world. Miss schnurr recieved somewhere around 30 shrapnel wounds in the shoot out and miraculously healed enough to walk across the stage for her graduation.No matter what people say I know that my cousin went out for Christ It says it in her writings and it says it on her grave marker P.S I want to live honestly and completely for Christ and it also was confirmed by the swat team who went through hours after and found her half under the table with her hands in a praying position and a wan smile. I take comfort that while all this was going down while we couldn't get to our loved ones Christ was there to hold and comfort each one as they breathed their last breath and welcome them home with a resounding well done thy good and faithful servant. As for the book it is a sweet reminder of all the precious time I had with this beautiful soul. .. Of all the precious time we all had with this beautiful soul. Inspite of the road she was taking and how much her parents struggled with her and much it took out of their own life to get her where she needed to be
That is the ultimate sacrifice of parenting and more of what we need to see in this world. . .To be able to put your own needs and wants on the shelf to save and put a wayward childs life on the right track weather it's your own child or mentoring another. We have a responsibilty to raise the new generation up right in the ways of God. Cass Cass's story and response has been heard the world over and so many lives literally. . Our prayers are with you where ever you might be in your life. Just as your thoughts and prayers have been with all of us( the families), all these years. May God be with you always.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Am important read for teens and parents...

This is the story of Cassie Bernall, as written by her mother. Cassie was killed in the Columbine shootings.

Her mother tells the story of her life and her death in a way that is honest and sometimes uncomfortable. What I mean by that is that no parent should have to go through having their child die in such a disturbing manner. So, when you read a mother's account of a daughter's death, it's just plain uncomfortable, though it needs to be.

I would recommend this to parents and teens. This is a great book to discuss with your teen. Maybe Cassie's story can help someone else from either becoming a shooter themselves or from becoming a victim.

Thank goodness for Cassie unflinching faith, and her family's ability to turn something so awful into something that gives meaning to Cassie's life and death.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

She said Yes

Cassie Bernall, one of the many victims of the unexpected shooting of many high school students at Columbine High, unfortunately got shot. Devastated from her daughter's death Misty Bernall won a Christopher Award, and hit the national bestseller list with her debut memoir She said Yes. She said Yes is a story that makes you feel the pain and troubles high school students go through.

Written by her own mother Misty Bernall, Cassie experienced an everyday life of bickering with her parents and surviving the maze of a high school life. She learned lessons from being in the wrong crowd, and faced fears and happiness no other could imagine.

Looking back on her daughter's death, Misty recalls Cassie inching away from their relationship more and more every day. She says that she wishes she could have done so much to help her, but all she did was watch and act out every now and then. In Cassie's troubled path, she came across a life changing experience that turned her whole life upside down.

"Yes," she said. It was the unthinkable, piercing silence that was ended with a bang that left you breathless. She died standing up for what she believed in. Only that wasn't good enough.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

The more I read about Cassie Bernall, the impression I get is of a young woman whos parents, in the name of 'tough love', victimized their daughter. When she attempted to define herself and her own spirituality, her parents denied her that right, forced her into a virtual re-education camp, and turned her into a little parrot of their beliefs. And all this book shows is that the Bernall's victimization of their daughter continues after her tragic death. Violating their own faith by bearing false witnesses against the one who truely spoke out for her faith and spirituality, they create an urban myth out of their daughter's 'Martyrdom'. The true martyr here is the truth. We'll never know what the truth of Cassie's beliefs and her true spirituality. All I hope though is she's safe and happy in the arms of what she, in her heart of hearts, held as a Creator. As for her parents, their own actions condemm them.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Don't even bother with this.

This book was written based on the lie that Cassie Bernall was shot and killed because she said that she believed in god. In reality a student named Valeen Schnurr answered that yes, she believes in god. Valeen was wounded but survied. I'm disgusted that Misty Bernall would exploit her daughter's death, and the tragedy at Columbine, for financial gain. But regardless of Mrs. Bernall's sketchy behavior, this book is fiction presented as fact. And it's not much of a page turner, anyway.

Amazing story of a beautiful life of a real believer- must read!

A wonderful book and life of a believer of God. Not only is this a story of her life and overcoming the challenges she faced, but its also how she said yes. Cassie was heard saying yes to believing in christ, but she said yes is more about how Cassie had said yes everyday in her life to living for her Lord. There are other books out there that say her story isn't true, but over the years one thing will always stay the same... Cassie chose to live for her God and said yes each and everyday to live her life that way. She said Yes is a wonderful book written great and I recommend it over and over again.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome!

This book is awesome! It taught me that not everything is perfect. Ever since I have read the book, I have had a different point of view of life. Life might seem like it takes forever, but it only takes one bullet, or heart attack to kill someone at any age. I keep reading the book, and ever since I read it the first one, I can't stop reading it. I re-read it all the time and I can't put it down once I start it.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Such a great book :)

This book "She said Yes", is such a great book. I liked it because this book is a true story about a teenage girl who had to take a stand for what she believed. It makes you question what you would do if you were in her position. I was too young to remember the shootings in Columbine so this gave me some background one of the first school shootings in the United States. It was scary but it makes you think. Overall, an excellent nonfiction story that anyone would be interested in.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

She never said anything.

Let me start by first saying that in no way do I blame Cassie for the lies and in no way do I think she should be dead. I'm truly sorry she was killed.

However. This book is a lie. At least her saying yes is. I think it is sick that people made up stuff during the columbine the whole thing was tragic and unreal on its own without people adding false statements to it. There was already so much confusion so much "why" that for people to go and spread rumors makes it even more confusing. I strongly home that Misty Bernall didn't know that Cassie never said yes when she wrote this or else she is guilty of using her child's death to gain fame.

I do not recommend this book based on two things. 1. it was a lie.. and 2. I personally feel her mother made her look bad for the entire first half of the book. Let the girl rest in peace and stop spreading rumors.

Faith and its Consequences

In the book "She Said Yes" by Misty Bernall, she tells the story of her daughter. Throughout the book, Misty talks about her daughter Cassie. Although you find out Cassie was a victim of the columbine shooting, you also find out that she like any other normal teenage girl. This book is telling a story of high school girl that goes through many challenges and many problems. As you read you find out many horrific things Cassie has done such as writing letters to a friend on how to kill her (Cassies') parents. Once her mother finds the letters everything seems to go downhill. Cassie led a normal up until she met a girl named Mona. Mona seemed to be a problem that led Cassie into doing bad things. Her parents were concerned when they found the letters because they had drawings of them dead. As Misty read the letters, they became more detailed and she was scared for her life. Thinking the best thing for her daughter was to put her in a private school, but things got worse. Reading this book changed my perspective on things but mostly this passage, "I couldn't see anything when those guys came up to Cassie, but I could recognize her voice. I could hear everything like it was right next to me. One of them asked her if she believed in God. She paused, like she didn't know what to answer, and then said yes. She must have been scared, but her voice didn't sound shaky. It was strong. Then they asked her why, though they didn't give her a chance to respond. They just blew her away." This was josh a boy that was near Cassie at the time of her death. What I liked about this book was that Misty had the strength to relive this tragic time in her life and how much she told about her daughter's life. Someone should read this book because it can change your perspective on faith and how you treat others around you.

highly recommended- you must check it out!!

This book has touched me. What she did, just blows me away. Being able to face her killers like that? Thats just incredible. Ive done numerous papers on this book because its one of my top 10 favorite books!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!!

She said Yes: The unlikely martyrdom of Cassie Bernall is a great book! It tells about a high school student who was asked the question "Do you belive in God?" after a moment pause she answered yes. Most people would think if a person would stand up for their faith, even if it meant dying, they had been brought up in a strong religious home. Cassie was not brought up in a strong religious home. She had pledged herself to Satin, her and her friend talked about killing, but with the help of her parents she found her way back to God. I think this book was a great way to tell Cassie's life, struggle, and death. It also had other people's views, and thoughts about Cassie and what was happening in her life.

With Just One Word

Most of us go through life never stopping to think of the possibility that the next thing we do or the next place we go could be the end of our life. That was surely the farthest thing from the mind of 17-year-old Cassie Bernall when she walked into the library of Columbine High School on April 20th. When Eric and Dylan asked her if she believed in God, she said yes, and was punished for it. She Said Yes is the biography of Colombine Massacre victim Cassie Bernall, told with complete truth by her mother, Misty Bernall. It tells of her life from the time she was a little girl playing hide and seek with her dad, to when she began down a dark path similar to the one of her killers, to the months following her death. Narrated primarily by her mother, the book includes pieces of letters to and from Cassie, and inputs from friends, family, and the people who saw her during her last moments. I really enjoyed reading this book because it told of how drastically Cassie turned her life around, it wasn't the typical fairytale most moms would write about their daughters. It gave a new perspective to what the world knows as the Columbine Massacre, which prior to this book was primarily the facts, not the true feelings of the tragedy. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the almost preachy feeling of the book in some parts. It talks a lot about how Cassie's life changed when she joined her church. In an aspect, it seemed almost made up. Cassie went on a church retreat as one person, and returned 3 days later as a totally different person, I personally find it hard to believe that this dramatic change happened so suddenly. The major theme, in my opinion, is love. It tells a lot about how much Misty loves her daughter through everything they were put through. I believe everyone should read this book. Moms should read it because Misty Bernall sets a great example about how to deal with your daughter after she goes down such a dark, rebellious road. Teens should read it because it shows how much parents love their children through thick and thin, and that is important for kids to understand. It has a great message to all age groups about being thankful for the lives they have and gives a new point of view to the well-known high school shooting.

WWYS? (What Would You Say?)

She Said Yes by Misty Bernall is a book that makes you a different person. As you read it, you evaluate who you are as a person and you learn things about yourself. It makes you dig deeper and really search yourself to answer the question, would I say yes? Cassie Bernall was like many teenagers who at an early age began to rebel. After her parents found letters she had written, they tried to pull her back in, but it was difficult. Then, after transferring between schools, Cassie met Jamie who helped her find her faith again. Cassie found new friends, made up with her parents, and her faith grew until the shooting at Columbine when she was killed for saying that she believed in God. After that, her parents decided to write this book to give others hope in their life. A major theme is lessons that can be learned. Cassie made many mistakes as a teenager. Teenagers can relate to so much of what she went through. This book will help them realize that it is never too late to turn around and change who you are. Cassie's mom admits that as parents, they made mistakes and this can help parents learn. They talk about how sometimes they wanted Cassie to act a certain way so that it reflected well on them as parents, but after Cassie's death, they learned that you have to let kids be themselves. This book can give parents hope that even if their child is going astray, they might come back. I really enjoyed the excerpts from Cassie's journal and notes. They had sections in there of things that Cassie's friends and family said. It is also a book that makes you think about yourself and it makes you think about the ways you are acting. I also liked how they had the Columbine shooting at the beginning of the book. This helped the reader understand how strong of a Christian Cassie was, and then her mom went back in time to talk about the time when Cassie was not living for God and when she was not interested in God. This book did get a little boring for me. The fact that it was only about five years of one person's life and that the book was over 150 pages made it a little boring and long. Also, some things I thought were repeated too much. I think people should read this book. Not only did it give people a different perspective of the Columbine shooting, but it also tells the life of a teenage girl who was on the wrong path but suddenly flipped around and got on the right path. It gives a reader hope and really touches you. Two other books I strongly recommend are One Tuesday Morning and Beyond Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury. They are also life changing. They tell about two families whose lives were changed by September 11.