LibGuides: True Crime Book Club: Sept. 2024

"Columbine" by David Cullen

Read-Alikes
Resources

No Right to Remain Silent by Lucinda Roy
Call Number: 364.152 ROY
The world watched in horror in April 2007 when Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho went on a killing rampage that resulted in the deaths of thirty-two students and faculty members before he ended his own life. Former Virginia Tech English department chair and distinguished professor Lucinda Roy saw the tragedy unfold on the TV screen in her home and had a terrible realization. Cho was the student she had struggled to get to know--the loner who found speech torturous. After he had been formally asked to leave a poetry class in which he had shared incendiary work that seemed directed at his classmates and teacher, Roy began the difficult task of working one-on-one with him in a poetry tutorial. During those months, a year and a half before the massacre, Roy came to realize that Cho was more than just a disgruntled young adult experimenting with poetic license; he was, in her opinion, seriously depressed and in urgent need of intervention. But when Roy approached campus counseling as well as others in the university about Cho, she was repeatedly told that they could not intervene unless a student sought counseling voluntarily. Eventually, Roy's efforts to persuade Cho to seek help worked. Unbelievably, on the three occasions he contacted the counseling center staff, he did not receive a comprehensive evaluation by them--a startling discovery Roy learned about after Cho's death. More revelations were to follow. After responding to questions from the media and handing over information to law enforcement as instructed by Virginia Tech, Roy was shunned by the administration. Papers documenting Cho's interactions with campus counseling were lost. The university was suddenly on the defensive. Was the university, in fact, partially responsible for the tragedy because of the bureaucratic red tape involved in obtaining assistance for students with mental illness, or was it just, like many colleges, woefully underfunded and therefore underequipped to respond to such cases? Who was Seung-Hui Cho? Was he fully protected under the constitutional right to freedom of speech, or did his writing and behavior present serious potential threats that should have resulted in immediate intervention? How can we balance students' individual freedom with the need to protect the community? These are the questions that have haunted Roy since that terrible day. No Right to Remain Silent is one teacher's cri de coeur--her dire warning that given the same situation today, two years later, the ending would be no less terrifying and no less tragic.
The Violence Project by Jillian Peterson; James Densley
Call Number: 364.1523 Peterson
Using data from the writers' groundbreaking research on mass shooters, including first-person accounts from the perpetrators themselves, The Violence Project charts new pathways to prevention and innovative ways to stop the social contagion of violence. Frustrated by reactionary policy conversations that never seemed to convert into meaningful action, special investigator and psychologist Jill Peterson and sociologist James Densley built The Violence Project, the first comprehensive database of mass shooters. Their goal was to establish the root causes of mass shootings and figure out how to stop them by examining hundreds of data points in the life histories of more than 170 mass shooters--from their childhood and adolescence to their mental health and motives. They've also interviewed the living perpetrators of mass shootings and people who knew them, shooting survivors, victims' families, first responders, and leading experts to gain a comprehensive firsthand understanding of the real stories behind them, rather than the sensationalized media narratives that too often prevail. For the first time, instead of offering thoughts and prayers for the victims of these crimes, Peterson and Densley share their data-driven solutions for exactly what we must do--at the individual level, in our communities, and as a country--to put an end to these tragedies that have defined our modern era.
Last Day on Earth by David Vann
Call Number: 364.1523 Vann
On Valentine's Day 2008, Steve Kazmierczak killed five and wounded eighteen at Northern Illinois University, then killed himself. But he was an A student, a Deans' Award winner. How could this happen? CNN could not get the story. The Chicago Tribune , Washington Post , and all others came up empty because Steve's friends and professors knew very little. He had reinvented himself in his final five years. But David Vann, investigating for Esquire, went back to Steve's high school and junior high friends, found a life perfectly shaped for mass murder, and gained full access to the entire 1,500 pages of the police files. The result: the most complete portrait we have of any school shooter. But Vann doesn't stop there. He recounts his own history with guns, contemplating a school shooting. This book is terrifying and true, a story you'll never forget.
Newtown by Matthew Lysiak
Call Number: 371.782 Lysiak
In the vein of Dave Cullen's Columbine , the first comprehensive account of the Sandy Hook tragedy--with exclusive new reporting that chronicles the horrific events of December 14, 2012, including new insight into the dark mind of gunman Adam Lanza. 12/14/12 Sandy Hook Elementary School Newton, Connecticut we remember the numbers: 20 children and 6 adults, murdered in a place of nurture and trust. We remember the names: teachers like Victoria Soto, who lost her life protecting her students. A shooter named Adam Lanza. And we remember the questions: outraged conjecture instantly monopolized the worldwide response to the tragedy--while the truth went missing. here is the definitive journalistic account of Newtown, an essential examination of the facts-- not only of that horrific day but the perfect storm of mental instability and obsession that preceded it and, in the aftermath of unspeakable heartbreak, the controversy that continues to play out on the national stage. Drawn from previously undisclosed emails, police reports, and in-depth interviews, Newtown: An American Tragedy breaks through a miasma of misinformation with its comprehensive and astonishing portrayal. this is the vital story that must be told-- today --if we are to prevent another American tragedy in the days to come.
Sandy Hook by Elizabeth Williamson
Call Number: 371.782 Williamson
On December 14, 2012, 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School were shot and killed. Nine years on, parents of the young victims are being accosted on the street and harassed online. Conspiracy theorists have asked them to defend that the event even occurred. At the centre of conspiracy theorists' crusade is Alex Jones's InfoWars, where hoaxers air noxious theories. Through exhaustive reporting, narrative storytelling, and intimate portraits, Sandy Hook will be the definitive book on one of the most shocking cultural ruptures of the internet age.
A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold
Call Number: 373.097 Klebold
On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Over the course of minutes, they would kill twelve students and a teacher and wound twenty-four others before taking their own lives. For the last sixteen years, Sue Klebold, Dylan's mother, has lived with the indescribable grief and shame of that day. How could her child, the promising young man she had loved and raised, be responsible for such horror? And how, as his mother, had she not known something was wrong? Were there subtle signs she had missed? What, if anything, could she have done differently? These are questions that Klebold has grappled with every day since the Columbine tragedy. In A Mother's Reckoning , she chronicles with unflinching honesty her journey as a mother trying to come to terms with the incomprehensible. In the hope that the insights and understanding she has gained may help other families recognize when a child is in distress, she tells her story in full, drawing upon her personal journals, the videos and writings that Dylan left behind, and on countless interviews with mental health experts. Filled with hard-won wisdom and compassion, A Mother's Reckoning is a powerful and haunting book that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. And with fresh wounds from the recent Newtown and Charleston shootings, never has the need for understanding been more urgent.
No Easy Answers by Brooks Brown; Rob Merritt
Call Number: 373.788 Brown
On April 20, 1999, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, two seniors at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, walked into their school and shot to death twelve students and one teacher, and wounded many others. It was the worst single act of murder at a school in U.S. history. Few people knew Dylan Klebold or Eric Harris better than Brooks Brown. Brown and Klebold were best friends in grade school, and years later, at Columbine, Brown was privy to some of Harris and Klebold's darkest fantasies and most troubling revelations. After the shootings, Brown was even accused by the police of having been in on the massacre--simply because he had been friends with the killers. Now, for the first time, Brown, with journalist Rob Merritt, gets to tell his full version of the story. He describes the warning signs that were missed or ignored, and the evidence that was kept hidden from the public after the murders. He takes on those who say that rock music or video games caused Klebold and Harris to kill their classmates and explores what it might have been that pushed these two young men, from supposedly stable families, to harbor such violent and apocalyptic dreams. Shocking as well as inspirational and insightful, No Easy Answers is an authentic wake-up call for all the psychologists, authorities, parents, and law enforcement personnel who have attempted to understand the murders at Columbine High School. As the title suggests, the book offers no easy answers, but instead presents the unvarnished facts about growing up as an alienated teenager in America today.

MLN Materials

book

Synopsis

It is a false script, seized upon by a generation of new killers. In the wake of Newtown, Aurora, and Virginia Tech, the imperative to understand the crime that sparked this plague grows more urgent every year. What really happened April 20, 1999? The horror left an indelible stamp on the American psyche, but most of what we "know" is wrong. It wasn't about jocks, Goths, or the Trench Coat Mafia. Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on scene, and spent ten years on this book-widely recognized as the definitive account. With a keen investigative eye and psychological acumen, he draws on mountains of evidence, insight from the world's leading forensic psychologists, and the killers' own words and drawings-several reproduced in a new appendix. Cullen paints raw portraits of two polar opposite killers. They contrast starkly with the flashes of resilience and redemption among the survivors.

Discussion Questions

Media Portrayal:
- How does the book critique the media's coverage of the Columbine High School massacre? In what ways did media narratives shape public perception and understanding of the events?
Psychological Profile:
- Explore the psychological profiles of the perpetrators, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, as presented in the book. How does Cullen navigate the challenge of understanding their motivations and mental states?
School Culture and Bullying:
- How does the book address the issue of bullying and the school culture at Columbine High School? To what extent do you think these factors played a role in the tragedy?
Law Enforcement Response:
- Discuss the law enforcement response to the Columbine shooting. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the response, and what lessons can be learned from it?
Gun Control Debate:
- Analyze the book's exploration of the gun control debate in the aftermath of Columbine. How did the events influence discussions and policies related to gun control?
Myth vs. Reality:
- Cullen challenges some commonly held beliefs about the Columbine massacre. Discuss instances where the book dispels myths or misconceptions surrounding the events.
Impact on Society:
- Examine how the Columbine shooting impacted American society, particularly in terms of school safety measures, public perceptions of violence, and the media's approach to reporting on similar incidents.
Warning Signs:
- The book discusses various warning signs exhibited by the perpetrators. How does Cullen address the issue of identifying and responding to warning signs in potential cases of school violence?
Cultural and Societal Influences:
- Explore the cultural and societal influences that may have contributed to the mindset of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. How do larger societal issues intersect with the personal struggles of the perpetrators?
Prevention and Intervention:
- Based on the insights provided in the book, discuss potential strategies for preventing and intervening in similar incidents of school violence. What changes could be made at the societal, institutional, and individual levels?

About the Author: Dave Cullen

Dave Cullen has a background in journalism and has written for several major publications. He gained widespread recognition for his coverage of the tragic events at Columbine High School in 1999. He spent years researching and reporting on the incident, providing in-depth analysis and debunking certain myths and misconceptions surrounding the event.

In 2009, Dave Cullen published his critically acclaimed book "Columbine," which delves into the details of the Columbine High School massacre and its aftermath. The book offers a comprehensive examination of the tragedy, exploring the lives of the perpetrators, the response of law enforcement, and the impact on American society.

Apart from his work on Columbine, Cullen has contributed to various publications, including The New York Times, Slate, and Salon. His writing often focuses on topics related to crime, violence, and societal issues.

Dave Cullen on Writing

Fact vs Fiction: Columbine Shooting

Investigation:

The investigation into the motives of Harris and Klebold revealed a complex set of factors, including feelings of alienation, anger, mental health issues, and a desire for notoriety.
It was determined that the attackers did not specifically target individuals based on characteristics like race or social status, but rather sought to cause widespread harm.

The Columbine High School shooting had a profound impact on the United States and led to increased awareness and changes in how schools approach issues of safety and mental health. It also triggered ongoing discussions about gun violence prevention and the identification of potential warning signs in troubled individuals.

The Columbine High School shooting occurred on April 20, 1999, in Columbine, Colorado, and it was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The perpetrators, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, both students at Columbine High School, carried out a planned attack that resulted in the loss of 13 lives (12 students and 1 teacher) and numerous injuries before they took their own lives.

Investigation:

The investigation into the motives of Harris and Klebold revealed a complex set of factors, including feelings of alienation, anger, mental health issues, and a desire for notoriety.
It was determined that the attackers did not specifically target individuals based on characteristics like race or social status, but rather sought to cause widespread harm.

Investigation:

The investigation into the motives of Harris and Klebold revealed a complex set of factors, including feelings of alienation, anger, mental health issues, and a desire for notoriety.
It was determined that the attackers did not specifically target individuals based on characteristics like race or social status, but rather sought to cause widespread harm.

TV & Movies

Elephant

A variety of adolescents at a suburban high school drift through a seemingly uneventful day, until two students arrive with violent intentions. Alex (Alex Frost) and Eric (Eric Deulen) have developed elaborate plans to enter their school and gun down as many of their peers as possible. Although Alex and Eric are seen as the victims of bullying, and the pair have carefully plotted their attack, most of the violence is committed with a detached sense of randomness.

I'm Not Ashamed

Columbine High School student Rachel Joy Scott grew up knowing the love of God but wasn't always ready to receive it. At times her faith is strong, but at other times, she finds that it's at odds with her daily life. After a difficult breakup with her non-believing boyfriend, Rachel finds inspiration from a formerly homeless teen, and her renewed commitment to Christ plays out powerfully at her high school and around the world. Based on a true story.

Bowling for Columbine

Political documentary filmmaker Michael Moore explores the circumstances that lead to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and, more broadly, the proliferation of guns and the high homicide rate in America. In his trademark provocative fashion, Moore accosts Kmart corporate employees and pleads with them to stop selling bullets, investigates why Canada doesn't have the same excessive rate of gun violence and questions actor Charlton Heston on his support of the National Rifle Association.

True Crime Book Club: Sept. 2024

"Columbine" by David Cullen

MLN Materials

Synopsis

Discussion Questions

About the Author: Dave Cullen

Dave Cullen on Writing

Fact vs Fiction: Columbine Shooting