The Vanishings (Left Behind: The Kids #1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jerry B. Jenkins (Author), Tim LaHaye (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Left Behind: The Kids

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Someday, Jesus will return to take his followers to heaven.... We will disappear right in front of disbelieving people. Won't that be a great day for us and a horrifying one for them?" That was old Pastor Billings droning on again about the Rapture, and Judd was bored out of his skull. A sarcastic 16-year-old, way too cool for all this Jesus stuff, Judd had even lied about receiving Christ as his Lord and personal Savior. But poor hotheaded Judd is about to be very, very sorry.

The first book in the children's version of Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye's sleeper-hit Left Behind, The Vanishings introduces us to Judd ("The Runaway") and his three imperfect companions: Vicki ("The Rebel"), Lionel ("The Liar"), and Ryan ("The Skeptic"). These four teens, for one reason or another, all failed to submit to the power of the living Lord, despite their friends' and parents' best efforts. And when Pastor Billings's Rapture actually happens--sending Christian-piloted trains, planes, and automobiles crashing as millions of true believers literally vanish in the blink of an eye, leaving behind nothing but their skivvies and their W.W.J.D. necklaces--the four wayward teenagers get religion and fast. The saga continues when they receive a second chance in book two. (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes

About the Author

Jerry B. Jenkins, former Vice President for Publishing and currently Writer-at-Large for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, is the author of more than 150 books, including the best-selling Left Behind series. Sixteen of his books have reached the New York Times best-seller list (seven in the number one spot) and have also appeared on the USA Today, Publisher's Weekly and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists.

Tim LaHaye is an internationally known author, teacher, and expert on Bible prophecy. He is married to Beverly, who is the founder of the largest women's organization in America, Concerned Women for America. The LaHayes live in southern California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842321934
• ISBN-13: 978-0842321938
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Series
  • #34 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > General
  • #39 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Ages 9-12

More About the Author

Dr. Jerry B. Jenkins, former vice president for publishing and currently writer-at-large for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, is the author of more than 160 books, including the 63,000,000-selling Left Behind series.

Also the former editor of Moody Magazine, Dr. Jenkins's writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and dozens of Christian periodicals. Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye were profiled in a May 24, 2004 cover story in Newsweek magazine entitled "The New Prophets of Revelation."

Jerry's non-fiction books include as-told-to biographies with Hank Aaron, Orel Hershiser, Walter Payton, Nolan Ryan, and many others.

Jenkins also assisted Dr. Billy Graham with his memoirs, Just As I Am, also a New York Times bestseller.

Jerry owns Jenkins Entertainment, a filmmaking company in Los Angeles, and also the Christian Writers Guild, which aims to train tomorrow's professional Christian writers and has nearly 2,000 members worldwide.

www.JerryJenkins.com
www.Jenkins-Entertainment.com
www.ChristianWritersGuild.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The story has been "Left Behind"..., December 2, 2000

By 

Jay - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vanishings (Left Behind: The Kids #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the original "Left Behind" series LaHaye and Jenkins tell a story of what would happen if Christ "raptured" his Church today - taking all of his faithful believers to heaven with him. In "The Kids" series the authors have made a haphazard attempt at adapting their story to a bunch of teenagers whom are all in some way connected to the adults of the original series.

I enjoy the adult series, but as a Sunday School teacher I have a lot of apprehensions about giving this book to children in the 9-12 age range that I so often see it listed as. This book only gets through the first quarter of the first in the adult book. The "ungodly" pasts of the characters is told to explain why they were not taken, but the story does not go far enough. The book cuts off too early and never shows the kids themselves making the realization that their actions are responsible for them being "left behind".

Be careful with this book. It should not just be handed to children, but backed up by discussions with adults who have also read the book. I would recommend using it in a group study however as the chapters are short enough that children ought to be able to read a chapter per week.

Why 3 stars? I like Jenkins and LaHaye. This book has merit and would be good in a group study. But I found certain segments of the book to be "too adult" for nine year olds.

56 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Parents strongly cautioned!, January 23, 2002

By 

Concerned Parent (Rustbelt) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vanishings (Left Behind: The Kids #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a parent, a homeschooler, a conservative, and a committed Christian. I say all this up front so that my criticism of this series will be understood.

I believe in presenting the truth to my children to the best of my ability.

This means the truth of the Bible -- not the opinion of an extreme minority.

This means the truth of Church History -- warts and all.

This means the truth of Secular History.

This means the truth of what comprises good literature vs. poor literature -- and this series does not represent the quality of material I want my children to handle.

Truth is frequently painful and sometimes scary.

HOWEVER, I do NOT believe in deliberately frightening children into accepting or rejecting a particular opinion or viewpoint. It appears to this parent that such religious "scare tactics" are precisely what is being engaged in with these books.

My children know about heaven and hell. They know what it requires to end up in either of those destinations. They understand that hell is a pretty scary place. But I choose to teach them in a positive, rather than in a negative vein. Being "scared straight" is imperfect contrition. Granted, it beats no contrition at all -- but it results in fear rather than love.

This is what this series appears to accomplish: salvation through fear, rather than salvation through acceptance of the love of the God of Love.

Parents, pay attention to what your children read. Teach them about the love of God, not only through your words but through the example of your life. But don't try to frighten them into the Kingdom.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Vanishings, November 11, 2000

By 

A parent (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vanishings (Left Behind: The Kids #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read the original Left Behind series and loved it. I thought my 8 year old son might enjoy the kids. Fortunately I read the first two before he did because he is not ready. I strongly suggest that the parent read the book first, and knowing your child, decide whether they are ready for it or not.