The Journals Of Rachel Scott A Journey Of Faith At Columbine High [Hardcover]

Debra K. Klingsporn (Adapter), Beth Nimmo (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Written teen to teen as a first-person narrative, this is not a book about the Columbine shootings - instead, it's a story of faith, told in Rachel's own words. The book includes first person narratives, journal entries, drawings from Rachel's diary, and notes from her parents and friends at Columbine High School. Additionally, "me pages" (what makes me angry, what I'm aftraid of) encourage teens to explore issues central to their lives and faith. Highlighting Rachel's faith journey from the time she became a Christian, through her joys and doubts, her hopes and dreams, this story is a triumphant testimony that teens will treasure.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-This biography of the first student killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, was adapted by her mother and Klingsporn from the teen's writing and diaries. Scott emphasizes her relationship with God and her commitment to Christian living, and the book provides spaces for readers to do their own journaling, prompted by questions and headed "Just Between God and Me." The text is illustrated with facsimiles of the young woman's journals, poems, songs, and drawings. Chapter 11 offers her unedited writings, to provide an ending more upbeat than Chapter 10, which is her chilling journal entries for the morning of April 20, followed by her mother's essay on her own journey toward forgiveness. It is clear that the teen had some talent for writing and sketching. She was serious about her faith and her search for God. The problem with the book lies in the adaptation and fictionalizing of her journals. When she talks about Anne Frank or how she believes that she'll never marry, one must wonder if this is actually what Rachel wrote, or if it has been elaborated on by the editors to increase the effect of foreshadowing. The first-person narrative makes it more readable, but also begs the question-is this Rachel as she was, or as her mother remembers her? Probably a little of each. Buy where student writing, Christian witnessing, and Misty Bernall's She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall (Plough, 1999) are popular, or for a comprehensive collection on the events at Columbine.

Amy A. Healey, Loyola Academy Resource Center, Wilmette, IL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849975948
• ISBN-13: 978-0849975943
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #281,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Inspirational

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and Open Book, May 4, 2001

By 

Bethanee (Littleton, Co. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journals Of Rachel Scott A Journey Of Faith At Columbine High (Hardcover)

I have read the book The Journals of Rachel Scott and I feel the writer had a very tough job to write from Rachel's point of veiw without ever knowing her personally. As Rachel's sister I feel that she did an awesome job. Much of the book was based on things written and said to her friends and family in letters and journals. Though no person could ever truly capture who Rachel was and what she would write I feel that the book shows a young girl who made a difference with her life because of her willingness. I am very proud of my mom who wrote this book and I know that Rachel would want her to know that same!!

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wish It Had Come From Rachel, April 2, 2001

By 

"shadychanteuse83" (Madison NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journals Of Rachel Scott A Journey Of Faith At Columbine High (Hardcover)

I thought the book was beautiful and moving but I was really dissapointed that it wasn't Rachel's actual journal, instead it was written by a woman who looked through all of Rachel's writings and then wrote "from Rachel's point of view" plus her own vision. I think it would have been a lot more hard hitting and real if the book really was a reprint of Rachel's real journals, that way we could hear from and learn about this amazing girl from her own words. No offense to the writer who did a good job but I think Rachel has touched so many people that we want to learn all we can about her and read her thoughts for ourselves without someone else's impression of them mixed in. I hope Rachel's parents print her real journals in the future.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give more stars for this book, May 8, 2004

By 

Brittany (Canton, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journals Of Rachel Scott A Journey Of Faith At Columbine High (Hardcover)

Before I read this book I was haveing a spiritual down fall after reading it I was complete reformed.Rachel became my role model and should be the role model for any christian of any age. The author uses Rachel's poems, writtings, stories, quotes, ect to teach other's through Rachel's life. I am happy they didn't say much about her death because she isn't dead, she is living forever in heaven. If more people would read this book and take it to heart and tell others to read it our world would be a better place. Full of love, kindness, gentelness, out reaching, and hopefully more people living their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. When I tell others about this book I am speechless...God helped me grow through this book and He will work through it to you.