Left Behind >The Kids<The Vanishings

By: Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHayeTyndale House Publishers, INC. 1998

Malcolm Driscoll

Introduction to NovelThis story takes place in Chicago.The book starts off by introducing the main

charactersJuddVickiLionelRyan

It discusses how they each lost their way with the Christian church.

Protagonist Judd Thompson Jr.

was against his parents and just wanted to be independent.

His need to fit in caused him to leave his church and vow not to return.

He ran away from home.

ProtagonistVicki Byrne was a rebel

and a pot head that loved to party.

Her parents were the same way until they found Jesus.

Vicki refused to change her life although everyone else in her family did, even her older brother.

ProtagonistLionel Washington

was a liar .He went to church

and enjoyed the songs but never really believed in Jesus.

His uncle Andre, a drug addict, also did not believe in Jesus and was in and out of jail.

ProtagonistRyan Daley never

really went to church but his friend Raymie Steele did.

Raymie tried to tell Ryan about Jesus but Ryan just ignored him and went inside to play.

Ryan was a Skeptic.

Antagonist The antagonists

were the devil’s toys.The people that

stopped Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan from accepting Christ.

Identification of Central ConflictThe conflict in this book is whether or not to

accept Christ and make it into heaven.All of the main characters are involved with

this conflict;JuddVickiLionelRyan

Minor Characters Judd’s mom is a minor

character but is important to the story and the character of Judd himself.

She is important because you can see how she pushes Judd away yet tries to get him to come to the church like he did when he was younger.

Minor Characters Vicki’s father is a

minor character. He explains why

Vicki behaves the way she does.

He also foreshadows change within the kids and shows that it is possible to change.

Minor Characters Uncle Andre is a minor

character but is important because he changes Lionel’s life when he tells him he is not really a Christian.

This event changes Lionel’s life because at this point Lionel decides not to be a Christian just like his Uncle .

Minor Characters Raymie is a minor

character. He is Ryan’s best

friend and he tries to get Ryan to become a Christian like him but Ryan ignores him because Ryan just wants to play games.

What Critics SayThis book review talks about how people all

over the world have just disappeared right out of their cloths and how Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan are left alone to deal with the Earth’s chaos.

Several readers post their thoughts about the book on this website.

http://www.cmlibrary.org/readers_club/reviews/tresults.asp?id=1286

What Critics SayThis book review talks about how Judd just wants

to be left alone, how Vicki just wants to party and forget her parents found Jesus, how Lionel just wants to hang out with his uncle, and how Ryan just wants to play.

The review then talks about the disappearing and how the four kids now want Jesus.

It discusses how the four kids were a lot closer together than they thought.

http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/jenkins_vanishings.htm

What does Malcolm ThinkAbout the Novel

I really like the novel. I thought it had a very good message.

I think you all should check it out from the library one day because it will really opens your eyes.

It opened my eyes to what my Pastor has been preaching about the last six months.

I plan to continuing reading this series and I hope you will too.