Customer Reviews

Rachel's Tears: 10th Anniversary Edition: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott

5 star:		(114)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I was amazed when I read this book. I think that the message Rachel Scott has is very important for all people, young and old. I know it inspires me to take my faith more seriously and to to perform more acts of kindness for people. I want to continue to grow in Christ because that is the answer to healing our nation's wounds.

I cannot too highly recommend this book! Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott have written a heartfelt, enthralling tribute to their daughter Rachel Joy, as only a loving parent could inscribe! The lesson of Columbine is really quite simple. Excellent children come forth from excellent parenting! It's no accident that Rachel was such a wonderful person. Her bravery, her determination to love and serve God no matter what the cost, will stand for all time as an inspiration to us all. Rachel's mom and dad gave her the most significant gift of all; an awareness of God's love and destiny for her life, which gave her the courage to face down a hate-filled killer with her integrity and faith intact. Read this book! It will change your life! As the author of another book about Columbine and Rachel Scott, The Martyrs' Torch, I can only humbly ennoble and pay homage to this monumental literary tour de force!

I just got finished reading this book and she is an incredible inspiration to teens today. Her story incredibly touched me and inspired me to become a better Christian. I believe that her life could be summed up in two words- compassion and love. That's all that she had for everyone. I know that God had a purpose for her death and so do her parents know it. However,seems as though it is unfair. Through this book I realized that all she wanted to do was change the world, she got to do that, by laying down her life. Definitely read this book!

I think this is the MUST READ book for teens today. I think also that all youth workers should read this for the renewal aspects of the book. It makes me as a Youth Pastor feel that the kids are "getting it" even when I think they are not. This book is far superior to other Columbine biographries as it lacks any hint of self service. I was completely challenged in my faith in Christ after reading Rachel's genuine love for Him and pursuit of him.

I was deeply affected by the Columbine tragedy for several reasons. After the one year aniversary, I wanted to read a book about it so I could better understand what happened and the grief that the community of Littleton, CO went through. I wanted to read a book that had a real message behind it, and that is exactly what Rachel's Tears contains. Rachel comes across as a beautiful and enthusiastic but otherwise average teen who struggled with the same problems that every boy or girl her age must face. The two things that helped her cope are her never ending faith in God and her ability to relate to those who were different from her. These two wonderful and rare qualities allowed Rachel to face her killers with the same courage that won her all of her friends and admirers during her special but brief life. Rachel died so God could share this message with you.

I was moved to tears many times by this book. This young lady was more grounded in her faith than some of us ever are our entire lives. We search for that kind of closeness with God, she had it, she was there. Her desire to not be afraid to be different and share her faith, to talk her walk as she called it, should be enough to make anyone want to make changes in their life after reading this. I have requested that my teenage daughters youth group at church read it, as well as her reading class at a Christian School she attends. Every person who has or does struggle with their faith should read this book. This young lady will inspire you. Her family has done a wonderful job with this, it is a beautiful book. I lived in the area very close to Columbine and attended the first years it was opened.This tragedy has been very difficult for me and my teenage daughter. This book has helped us both deal with the tragedy in a way that Rachel may have wanted us to learn from it, as I feel I have learned a great deal from her. One of those important messages being....Eternity is in you hands, change it!

I read this book several weeks ago but struggled to write a review after I did some internet research on the Columbine trajedy itself.

I would love to give this is a 5-star review. It's obvious that this young lady was a deeply devoted child of God and wasn't afraid to tell others what she lived and believed in. The parents did a remarkable job in bringing this book to life, especially by including excerpts of Rachel's diary...lends itself to crediblity. The parents also do a wonderful job of stressing that although their daughter was a devoted Christian, she was not above temptation and definitely not above most human tendancies of "falling." She was by no means perfect! Such a refreshing read -- to know that the parents did not try to put their martyred daughter on a pedastal.

Rachel's life is battle-cry for the Body of Christ -- she should defintely be seen as a role model for many of today's teens (and most adults). A true Christian, true to her beliefs, with very human struggles. Again, she was by no means perfect, but "real."

What bothered me was the entries in reference to Cassie Bernal. Maybe I read too much into the book but the first time Ms. Bernall is mentioned, the sentence that follows is "which was later discounted" -- in reference to whether or not she actually admitted to believing in God. Later on, there is an (almost) 2 page spread on whether or not "she said yes" -- with the obvious conclusion (although not implicity stated) that Ms. Bernall wasn't even asked if she believed in God but that the conversation took place with another student & one of the killers.

This prompted me (out of morbid curiousity, admittedly) to do some research on the trajedy itself...and I found that not only was Cassie Bernall's statement proven false, so was Rachel Scott's of "you know I do" when she was asked if she believed in God.

Maybe when the book was first released (in 2000), all of the facts weren't available as far as what was said and done that horrible day. But 10 years later, new information has definitely been released. Whether either one said yes or no, whether or not they would've admitted, is not really the issue (by the entries in her journal, I truly belive Ms. Scott would've admitted it). What I find troubling is that the parents updated their book, adding the doubt of Cassie Bernall's statement, but cast no doubt on their own daughter's statement.

I doubt anyone will ever know for sure whether either one "said yes" -- but SAY THAT -- discounting one statement as "possibly" and another statement as "for sure" (implicit or otherwise) just does not sit right (with me).

Had it not been for those few statements, I would've definitely given this a 5-star review. In my opinion, those entries referencing Cassie Bernall did not add to the story and somewhat marred the book for me.

Sorry if I rambled.

As a student who is a Biblical Studies and Theology major I can honestly say that reading Rachel's Tears has greatly enhanced my faith and walk with Jesus Christ as no other book has. The testimonies found in the writings of this profoundly spiritual young girl is breath taking to read and I would encourage anyone who is struggling with their Christian walk to read the writings of Rachel Joy Scott. I am thankful that Rachel's parents have helped this nation take a more spiritual look into the tragedy at Columbine. This book has helped me to see that the martyrdoms of Rachel Joy Scott and Cassie Bernall were not merely empty deaths, but rather, God's way of reaching out to a spiritually dying nation. There is an old Christian saying, that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church", and Rachel's parents have truly helped me understand the truth of this statement. I highly encourage everyone to read this book, as well as the books "She Said Yes" by Cassie Bernall's mother, "Columbine Courage" by Ron Luce, and the "Martyr's Torch" by Pastor Bruce Porter. I have been greatly blessed by reading these books and I hope that you will be blessed as well.

Like most high school students I was very moved by the Columbine Tragedy last year. But I never fully understood God's hand in this horrible tragedy until May 20, 2000. That day was my high school graduation. Graduation day is memorable for everyone, but it became extra special to me. To my surpirse Beth Nimmo, Rachel Scott's mother, was one of our speakers. As we, the graduates, marched down to "Pomp and Circumstance", Beth Nimmo was so overcome with emotion that she had to excuse herself. I later found out that Rachel would have graduated May 20, 2000 also, from Columbine High School. As Mrs. Nimmo spoke to us about her daughter's life and faith in God, my heart was touched and filled with emotion. I looked back on my own life and remembered times that I didn't always show God's love nor stood up for my faith. Listening to Beth Nimmo's words and love for her daughtor, I decided that on this monumental day in my life, as I recieved my diploma, I was going to take a deeper and stronger stand for Christ than I ever have before. After finishing the book, "Rachel's Tears" I feel such a connection to Rachel and her desire to want to be fully filled with God and His love. Rachel's life is an encouragement and example of going against the crowd and standing up for God. Rachel's martyrdom is just the begining of a new generation, a generation of standing up against Satan and the evil that is so evident and strong in this world as demonstrated on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School.

As a member of the Columbine community and a student at a near by High School this tragedy had a great impact on me. I read She Said Yes and then I heard of Rachel's Tears. My boyfriend knew Rachel and talks about what a wonderful person she was and I have many friends that knew Cassie as well and through these books I can see what my friends saw in their friends who were taken from us April 20, 1999. Rachel's Tears has helped me to further cope and to get some insight into this tragedy. The journal entries are all so encouraging and she lived a life that shall never be forgotten. Please feel free to e-mail me at WWJD1cor13@juno.com