"The Vanishings" by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye

About this book:

  “This series is based on the best-selling adult Left Behind series. Readers will see the Rapture and Tribulation through the eyes of four kids who have been left behind.

  In one shocking moment millions around the globe disappear. Those left behind face an uncertain future--especially four kids who now find themselves alone.As the kids search for help and for answers, they are told the truth behind the disappearances. But are they ready to believe it?”


Series: Book #1 (of forty) in “Left Behind: The Kids” series.

Spiritual Content- Lots of Witnessing & getting saved; Many Talks about God, Jesus, Christians, forgiveness & the Rapture; Talks about Church & loving Jesus; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; All four main characters are/were left behind; Judd feels/felt like he outgrew Church & was too cool for it; Vicki doesn’t get God; Lionel knew the truth but didn’t truly believe; Ryan didn’t know much about God before the Rapture happened; Many mentions of Church, sermons, Sunday School, & memorizing Scriptures; Mentions of Bibles; Mentions of witnessing & witnesses; Mentions of religious people;

               *Note: Threats of going to hell; A mention of superstitions; A mention of someone thinking the Bible is fairy tales.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘what in blazes’, a ‘wuss’, two ‘idiot’s, six forms of ‘stupid’; Judd swears (once, not written); Mentions of curses (said, not written); Comments about skin colors & a man thinking that those with a certain skin color are criminals; Lionel & Ryan bicker at each other a lot; Many, many mentions of smoking, beer, drunks, drinking, highs; Many mentions of crimes, fighting & prison; Mentions of liquor & tobacco; Mentions of deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of bodies & morgues; Drinking champagne (barely-above-not-detailed).

Sexual Content- Noticing pretty girls;

            *Note: Mentions of Vicki dressing to get attention from girls & guys; Mentions of short skirts.

-Judd Thompson Jr., age 16

-Vicki Byrne, age 14

-Lionel Washington, age 13

-Ryan Daley, age 12
                                         P.O.V. switches between them
                                                        148 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

These ratings are for content, since everyone has a different opinion on the Rapture and how it will happen.

This is my second or third time re-reading this series, it was a favorite when I was twelve. I read them all as quick as I could get my hands on them, Judd & Vicki were my first ship (the original OTP, hahaha!). Since I’m older now and re-reading them all, I’ve noticed different things that I didn’t notice before. Like, the writing is a bit bland (he said, she said, said, said, said…). Or that there is lack of adjectives. And the characters being brats in this first book. (And also some comments of prejudice towards African Americans.)

There is a lot of Spiritual Content in this series, no doubt, but my main advice is to not take what these books say about the Rapture (& how it will happen) as Gospel. Read your Bible alongside and compare to what the Bible says (Truth) to what these authors made up (fiction inspired by The Truth). This series is to get people thinking, not to be taken as what will happen exactly.  

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.