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

~ (Author), Tim LaHaye (Author) "JUDD Thompson Jr. had always hated having the same name as his father..." (more)
Key Phrases: Uncle André, Judd Thompson, Vicki Byrne (more...)

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

Product Description

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.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Reprints edition (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842321934
• ISBN-13: 978-0842321938
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #185,807 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Left Behind: The Kids Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 45 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

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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terribly Disappointing, January 22, 2004

By A Customer

Let me start out by saying that I love the premise. Unfortunately, that is about all I loved about the series. The writing is completely lacking in artistry and features characters that are so flat that it is very hard to care what happens to them. I have read the first six books, and amazingly little has happened thus far. It was only the bits of biblical prophesy sprinkled throughout that have held my interest. The authors have managed to make the apocalypse boring!!!!!
I guess my biggest complaint is that there is no subtlety about these books at all. The message could have been much more powerful if only it had not been so blatant. It was just too preachy for my liking, coming across more like propaganda than young adult literature.

47 of 60 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

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."