She Said Yes The Unlikely Martyrdom Of Cassie Bernall [Hardcover]

Misty Bernall (Author), Michael W. Smith (Afterword), Madeleine L'Engle (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 1999

In She Said Yes, the mother of slain Littleton, Colorado student, Cassie Bernall—whose last words were an affirmation of her belief in God—shares in dramatic detail her daughter's journey from adolescent turmoil to finding faith in an age of doubt. Drawing on her own reminiscences of her daughter, as well as those of others impacted by Cassie's life and tragic death, Bernall has created a loving, but unflinchingly honest portrait of a young woman who paid the ultimate price for her faith.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In the aftermath of the Columbine High School tragedy, a story came out about Cassie Bernall, a young woman who allegedly professed her belief in God in the moments before she was shot dead. Hailed a modern-day martyr by Christian groups and the media, detectives revealed months later that she may never have had such an exchange with her killer. Bernall's parents responded to the news with a statement:

"Our intent was to share Cassie's story in an effort to encourage parents and teenagers. If any of our actions have hurt or offended anyone, we sincerely apologize."

In She Said Yes, a moving memoir written by Cassie's mother, Misty Bernall, we meet the real Cassie, a typical adolescent who struggles with peer pressure and her relationship with her parents. Once headed down the common teenage path of self-loathing and depression, Cassie turned her life around through her faith and the support of a group of people who helped her find peace and purpose--her youth group at church. Though Cassie was far from the perfect child, She Said Yes tells the story of how Cassie's faith gave her the strength to overcome the obstacles she faced in her young life. Regardless of what happened at Columbine, She Said Yes is a moving tribute to an extraordinary young woman and a lesson for both parents and teenagers alike. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

One of the most gripping stories to come out of the shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., is that of Cassie Bernall: when asked by the gunmen whether she believed in God, she answered yes and then was shot point-blank. Hours after the story emerged, Cassie was hailed a martyr by news media and Christian groups around the world. Her mother's smoothly written account of that day, and of the years that preceded it, provides a fuller picture of a girl who was once very troubled and, ironically, had been for a time as much of a Goth-loving outsider as her killers. Bernall relates how she and her husband intervened after finding letters in Cassie's room that described occult spells and ways to murder one's parents. In describing her daughter's turnaround, spurred by adjustments at school and a Christian youth group, Bernall also details her own emotional difficulties before and after the shooting. Her remarkable candor about her relationship with her daughter makes this an intense and fascinating memoir. Comments from Cassie's father and schoolmates add depth and, by her own admission, allow even Bernall to learn more about Cassie than she had known before the shooting. Through the Bernall family's example, the book shows how a troubled teenager can be helped, though Bernall doesn't hold back when describing the emotional toll the process can take. Although she doesn't see her daughter as a martyr, Bernall concludes that Cassie's death was, indeed, a triumph of honesty and courage. This powerful memoir honors that courage and reveals Misty Bernall's own. 10 b&w photos. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 142 pages
• Publisher: W Publishing Group (September 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849916453
• ISBN-13: 978-0849916458
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (434 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars She never said yes; Seek the real truth, April 1, 2009

By 

diasaah (MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

74 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The even MORE unlikely martyrdom, November 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom Of Cassie Bernall (Hardcover)

This book is not moving well in the neighborhood bookstores around the Columbine area, because everyone knows the truth is not contained between its covers. The girl who really DID say "Yes." has suffered for the printing of this book. It was dishonest for the publisher to proceed with publication once the police informed them of the truth. This book does a grave disservice to the memory of Cassie Bernall, trying to force her into false martyrdom.

84 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Martyr for money?, October 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom Of Cassie Bernall (Hardcover)

Christians would have us believe that decades after the events of the life of Jesus that the New Testament was written with perfect accuracy. But the Cassie Bernall story shows how in only a matter of months, an urban legend has grown to suit the mythology of christianity.

The questions of whether Bernall said *anything at all* at the time of the shooting was known when the first stories broke. Now it's becoming more and more apparent that in the confusion of that tragic event, Bernall was confused with another girl.

Yet the christians want their martyr and the publisher is making money. Apparently "god" has blessed this story with cash and truth went to hell.

If christians can't even get a story right when the events are recent and have grown an urban myth to suit their beliefs, why should any of us believe the New Testament is accurate in the least?

This book is hype and myth with little to no substance. Even the Bernall family has issued an "apology" though they refuse to let go of this very profitable fiction.