Rachel's Challenge: A Columbine Legacy

by Jeff Keuss, Lia Sloth

On April 20, 1999, Rachel Scott was eating lunch with a friend in front of her high school when she was approached by two fellow students with guns, shot four times, and killed. Her story is of a girl who refused to be average and instead, lived a life of purpose and compassion. In an essay assigned in school Rachel wrote, “Compassion is the greatest form of love that humans have to offer…I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same.” While she lived, Rachel strove to find the beauty in everyone and went out of her way to treat each person with respect. Her legacy challenges others to do the same.

44 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2006

Reviews

[Bea Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last documentary I watched mentioned this book but it took awhile to find a library that had a copy (thank you University of Wyoming!) Sadly the challenge feels dated reading it today, still so much bullying and poor social/emotional education going on, but I still almost cried (twice). A powerful story that still hits me personally.

[Andrea Hollenbeck]

This is a wonderful book and gives the account of Rachel, a student of Columbine HS during the rampage, and her family. It is an inspiration in forgiveness, and reaching out to everyone, with no clicks.

[Sarah Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

!~

[pati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible girl, profound book to say the least.