Columbine

Author: Dave Cullen
Publisher: Twelve; ISBN 9780446546928 edition (March 3, 2010)
Lexile Measure: HL760L
Classification: Non-fiction

Summary:
In this non-fiction work by reporter Dave Cullen, Cullen discusses the Columbine, Colorado, school shootings by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris from its beginning in Harris’ psychopathic mind through its execution and aftermath.  Bookrags.com provides an excellent summary.  It is entitled Columbine Summary & Study Guide.  To get more information, straight from the author’s mouth, see, davecullen.com.

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Language:
The language in Columbine fades into the background against the horrific, real-life violence depicted.  Nevertheless, for those concerned, language includes frequent profanity of every type imaginable contained in quotes from the teenagers and adults. Language includes d*mn, dumb*ss, *ss, p*ssed, f*ck, c*ck, sh*t, sh*thead, *sshole, g*dd*mn, b*stard, and h*ll.  Further, Harris’ list of people he hated included “g*ys, sp*cs, f*gs, and the “N” word.”

Drug and Alcohol Use:

• The teenagers in the book drink, frequently for the express purpose of getting drunk.
  
• Harris smoked, drank, and got high.
  
• Klebold was a heavy drinker whose nickname was VoDka due to his preference for the drink.
  
• The book also contains reference to smoking marijuana.
  
• Some of the kids smoke cigarettes, and the school had a smoking pit. 

Violence and Crime:
Obviously, given that this is a non-fiction account of a school shooting that left thirteen students and one adult dead and 23 others wounded before the killers committed double suicide, this is a very violent work.  

• It contains graphic descriptions of the killings as well as the killers’ plans for a much larger massacre as detailed in their journals and videotapes (the “basement tapes”).
• Underage characters also drink, smoke, and use drugs.  Harris and Klebold committed additional crimes such as assault, vandalism, and theft. 
  

Sexual Content:
Columbine contains little sexual content.

• There is a bit of kissing and there are passing references to the boys’ sexual conquests.  
• The book contains slurs about homosexuals such as “fag,” and quotes Reverend Jerry Falwell referring to Harris and Klebold as “two filthy fags.”  (See, pp. 155-156).
  

Other:

• Contrary to rumors in the shooting’s aftermath, the killers were not anti-religion and they neither sought religious students nor killed them for expressing religious beliefs. 
  
• Columbine discusses the role of organized religion before and after the shooting. It discusses the beliefs of the shooters and their victims.  It also examines the way some victims and their parents used religion after the shootings. 
  
• Columbine examines the effect of the shootings on the National Rifle Association and the gun control lobby (see, for example, pp. 210-213).
  
• Harris and Klebold seem to have been inspired by Darwinism (expressing the belief that they were furthering natural selection in exterminating those inferior to them).  
  
• The boys were interested in Nazism, although Harris expressed disdain for racists and Nazis.  They used Nazi-inspired phrases.
  
• Cullen explores possible physiological causes of the boys’ behavior, including Klebold’s depression.  Harris is portrayed as a textbook psychopath.  
  
• Chapter 38, entitled, “Martyr,” discusses the alleged martyrdom of Cassie Bernall and letters her mother found between Cassie and a friend that contained profanity, “hard-core sex talk, occult imagery, and magic spells.”  The letters talked about killing Cassie’s parents and contained graphic drawings of her murdered parents. Later, Cassie “shook the Enemy free” and became a committed Christian active in her church.
  

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Other Helpful Reviews:

• New York Times
  
• Washington Post
  
• Good Reads