Nicolae High

Left Behind: The Kids #5

by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Four teenagers who lost their families when the Rapture takes all true Christians into Heaven, but have now become Christians themselves, return to high school, where talking about God or possessing a Bible is forbidden

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Apocalyptic, Childrens, Science Fiction

118 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as the writer of the Left Behind series of books for Tim LaHaye and The Chosen novels to accompany his son Dallas's TV series. Jenkins has written more than 200 books, including mysteries, historical fiction, biblical fiction, cop thrillers, international spy thrillers, and children's adventures, as well as nonfiction. His works usually feature Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary list of Hall of Fame authors based on books sold at Amazon.com during its first 10 years. Jenkins now teaches writers to become authors here at his website. He and his wife Dianna have three sons and eight grandchildren.

Reviews

[Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judd Vicki Lionel and Ryan are faced with going back to school, but when they find out the names are changed there becomes a problem.With Judd and Vicki's school being named after the Antichrist, Nicholae Carpathia, the school is changed forever.No one is aloud to say anything about their beliefs of Christ,how will they be able to change the minds of other students or will their lives be changed forever.

This book is one of the best books in the whole series of Left Behind.It seems the author has gotten more into the books as he writes them.Also in this book Ryan and Lionel start to get along and become really good friends.In this book Nicholae High, it isn't as boring as the others.No this one was filled with action and excitement, yet, it also has some sad parts in it too.

I recommend to read this (but first read the other books first or it won't make sense).

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.35

This was an enjoyable read. The Young Tribulation Force are now going back to school. It is different because they have God by their side. Also, they are trying to get more Youth to believe in God. I really thought Vicki grew up in this book as we see her fight for her beliefs. I thought that was really powerful. They are going to do a newspaper to bring more youth. I hope it works. I can't wait to read Book 6. Overall, a great read.

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking changes are in store for the Young Trib Force. Their whole world is still getting rocked.

[Anna Schwirian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I loved how this showed the beginning struggles of telling others about Jesus in a suppressive environment. It also reminded me we should all be like the kids inside here telling others the Good news before the time prophesied about in the bible comes to pass.

[charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star!

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“A new challenge faces Judd, Vicki, Ryan, and Lionel. They must take their newfound faith to the classrooms of Global Community Middle School and Nicolae Carpathia High.
Danger awaits them. Should they obey the authorities, who outlaw carrying Bibles or even talking about God? Should they risk everything and speak the truth to their friends? Who can they trust?”


Series: Book #5 (of forty) in “Left Behind: The Kids” series. (Reviews of books #1, #2, #3, and #4.)


Spiritual Content- The Rapture has happened (all four main characters were left behind); All about the Rapture, the Antichrist, & Tribulation; Church going & sermons; Lots of witnessing & discussing; Many talks and discussions about God, knowing Him, the Bible, & what happened; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Many mentions of churches, sermons, & pastors; Many mentions of hell; Mentions of Bibles & Scriptures; Mentions of religious people;
*Note: Mentions of no religion on school grounds; A couple mentions of aliens; A mention of God helping those who help themselves.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘shut up’, two forms of ‘dumb’, and two ‘stupid’s; Judd swear once (not written); Lionel & Ryan bicker; Mentions of murder; Mentions of wars, famines, & deaths; Mentions of parties, alcohol/beer, drinking, & cigarettes.


Sexual Content- Judd doesn’t know if he’s romantically interested in Vicki; Vicki says that getting interested in him would be a mistake.

-Judd Thompson Jr., age 16
-Vicki Byrne, age 14
-Lionel Washington, age 13
-Ryan Daley, age 12
P.O.V. switches between them
123 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{These ratings are for content, since everyone has a different opinion on the Rapture and how it will happen.}
The dialogue has gotten better and the plot is picking up, so I’d say this is the best one thus far. I love the parts of Judd and Vicki (the first ship, y’all. ;) ) being rebels for a good cause at their new school.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*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.

[84-The_enlightment_of_Doctor_Grace_part5_Jesus · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, the kids are going back to school. The schools have been renamed and the high school is named after the antichrist. Judd and Vicki Struggle with their first day because they are not allowed to God in their school. Even though they aren't allowed to, they have met others who believe in God and they think they should make the young tribulation force bigger. All of Vicki's friends don't recognize her because she dresses diferently now and she acts different. They also don't believe her when she tries to tell them about God.
It's a scary thought that even after God gave everyone proof he is real, people still did not believe. These kids have salvation and they are worried about everone else getting into Heaven too. But I guess no matter how hard you try, you can't save everyone.

[Spork · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book begins with Vicki going on a little excursion. In the aftermath of the rapture, one of the few people she was able to establish contact with was her adult brother’s roommate, Bub, who lives in Michigan. Now, though, he won’t pick up her calls. She decides to hitchhike to him and check in. A nice Christian trucker rescues her from some creepy truckers, and he tells her his life story, adding that he, too, has quit cigarettes and alcohol cold-turkey since his conversion (like every Christian character in these books). Unfortunately, he can’t take her all the way to Bub, and he can’t find someone he trusts to take her the rest of the way, so he has her call Judd to come pick her up.

It’s a rather anticlimactic vignette, and it seems to exist only to reinforce that Judd is supposed to be in charge of the other kids. On the ride back, Vicki even compares him to a parental figure, which is…pretty weird, considering that the two of them are still mulling over potentially having feelings for each other. You may not like it, but (I guess) this is what male headship looks like.

When Judd and Vicki get back, they, along with Lionel and Ryan, talk to Bruce again. Most of the content here is a rehash of the last book, though Bruce does add that the Seven Seal judgements are coming soon, and he warns the kids that, statistically speaking, only one of them will be alive by the time everything ends. It also turns out that Lionel and Ryan have developed one personality trait between them, which is bickering with each other. Bruce reprimands them for this, and they promise to try to get along.

Right in the middle of the book, Bruce gives a long Sunday sermon about the sequence of judgements that will precede the end of the world. About half of the text in this chapter is dedicated to the actual sermon, and half is dedicated to various characters thinking about what an awesome, riveting sermon it is. Once the sermon is over, the nice trucker from Vicki’s hitchhiking attempt calls her to let her know that Bub is dead. She feels guilty for failing to reach him in time.

Without any particular transition, it’s Monday, and the kids are going back to school. The schools have been renamed, though: Lionel and Ryan will attend Global Community Middle School, and Vicki and Judd will be going to Nicolae Carpathia High. It becomes clear that LaHaye and Jenkins have abandoned all pretense of treating Lionel and Ryan like equally important characters when the narrative abandons them at the door, leaving us to follow Vicki and Judd through their day.
First, in an impressive display of how little the writers trust their readers to infer anything, the kids go to an all-school assembly where they are told how their classes will be run on the first day. Then they go to the classes, where they live out LaHaye’s fantasy of Christian oppression in the public sector. Judd faces down a sanctimonious psychology teacher, who unironically uses the term “thought police” and tells Judd that his religion is just a rationalization protecting him from absorbing the truth about what happened to his family. Vicki talks to some of her friends, who make fun of her for her new “preppy” style (though every adult she talks to comments on how much better she looks now). She also identifies a deeply traumatized friend (Shelly) as a target for evangelization. During her first class (phys ed), she refuses to stop talking about the rapture, despite the fact that students were instructed not to discuss religious theories for the disappearances. She uses some pretty standard evangelical talking points about religious discrimination in schools: her freedom of speech is being curtailed, her teachers are “protecting the state from the church,” etc. Judd attends another class, where the teacher breaks down in tears because of the family members she lost. The book ends with Vicki and Judd strategizing about how to recruit more kids into their group. They decide to start an unofficial student newspaper.

Just like the previous three books (technically four, but I’m not going out of my way to get the book I don’t have), this one is rambling and disjointed. There’s not even really a narrative–just kids doing things LaHaye thinks kids might do after the rapture. It’s hard to picture any real kids having the patience for this. I suppose it is structurally realistic, but it’s not a story. Even the classic children’s fantasy–escaping home and having a grand adventure–is quickly quashed: Vicki cannot take care of herself and almost immediately has to call an authority figure to ask for rescue. I should point out that I don’t think it’s a great idea for unaccompanied fourteen year old girls to hitchhike (or for anyone to hitchhike–it’s quite dangerous), but one gets the sense that this book was written more for parents than for children.

The most fanciful part of the book is the last third, in which the children confront their teachers and fellow students at school. I have heard from Christians working in the public school system that it can be a pretty difficult environment, and it does make sense for a school system being overhauled by the literal Antichrist to be hostile to Christianity, so I’ll give LaHaye and Jenkins a bit of a pass on that (although one must remember that LaHaye was a member of the John Birch society). The really outrageous aspect of it is the stilted dialogue and characterization. I won’t give examples here, but suffice it to say that the side characters in this series are no better than the main characters.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids have to go back to school, but huge trouble is afoot. Their school has been re-named Niclolae High, after the antichrist Nicolae Carpathia. In even more bad news, no one is allowed to express their religous beliefs.

This book was very good. Most of the Left Behind books are books I don't want to stop reading, and this was no different. These books always leave me wanting more, which is why there's a 40 book series!

I reccomend this for fans of the series. Not reading the other Left Behind books before this makes it confusing, so read the others before this.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

The four kids who have been "left behind" go back to school for the first time after the disappearances. Not exactly as heart-pounding as the previous entries in the series, but this volume seems to imply that things are about to get crazy.

Content Concerns: Aside from the possibly offensive Rapture theology and one brief scene where a young female character is threatened by a predator, I can't think of anything that would bother anyone in this book. The violence that was present in the prior novels is nowhere to be found here.

Score: 3.75/5

[Ardae Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids are forced to go back to school and are experienced in teaching people the word of God.
The Middle School is called Global Weekly Junior High. The high school is called Nicolae Carpathia
HighSchool. The story starts off with the High School and the Principal warns students they can talk
about the rapture or as they say the disappearances but not one of the probable causes. They talked
about separation of church and state which keeps the government out of the church and the church out of
the government. Then both kids get an opportunity to tell others about Jesus and found people who do.
SINCE they are stop, the Young Tribulation Force plans on writing an underground newspaper with
the good news.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids started back in school and the two older ones have a plan to get more kids to believe. I think it is crazy they are starting school up again but I guess it is the right thing to do. I hope Judd and Vicki don’t get in trouble for trying to make kids believe. I think if they get those other two kids, the seniors, on their side then they should be good.

[Janae' · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book in the series so far. I like the storyline of them retuning to school and learning what the dynamic is there. I love that in each book I keep learning more and more about God. Which each book my faith grows and grows and I find myself learning of ways to defend myself to nonbelievers.

[Becca Avila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was just as good as the other books. So far I have read up to #31 in this series. I LOVE the series. this one was very good. John… the rest of his story will be devastating. He gave himself up for a non-believer. By the way, don’t think God won’t work in Shelly’s life. It will be amazing what He does for her.

[Judy Tarver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent series of books about what might happen during the end times according to the Bible and based on the author’s interpretation. Series was written for kids and young adults. I think the series originally written for adults was much better than this series, however they are still good books and the characters do sometimes interact with the characters from the original series.

[Bobby Stringini · Rating 3 out of 5]

How have I read five of these dang books already? Oh well. This one is a step up from the last, with better characterization. I especially liked the way Vicki is developing. Even Pastor Bruce gets some solid moments of growth. Honestly, this book works more as a bridge as we move into a new arc for the kids. Not bad.

For more detailed reviews check out my YouTube channel Trash with a Capital T.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The further I read in this series, the more I enjoy it. It has been several years since I lost the original 16 books of the Left Behind series (in a home invasion), but these evoke the same feelings.

I recommend these highly, for adults as well as teens.

[Tricia Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this series of books is a must for young adults and adults. Jesus has taken his people home now The Book Revelation will be fulfilled, were you left behind?

[Leslie]

Back to school...

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST SERIES EVER!!!!! YOU HAVE TO READ THIS SERIES!!!!! BEST SERIES EVER!!!!!

[Divine]

I love this book

[Angel Reichart]

I enjoyed this book a lot. Great series. I’m learning a lot.

[Eve (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤ (Semi-active) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good.

[Laura Morganti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect read

This book is recommended for anyone who likes a good challenge for their faith. I liked how the author makes each individual character their own personality .

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading

This is great reading for anyone interested in the rapture. It's a story about how things may be during that time.

[Timothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 1/2 stars.

[Sarah Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed another one!

[Meshach Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how this book simulates what would happen in a event like the rapture I really in joyed reading this book and how they need to help spread the word about god. this Is a great book and the author did a great job on the characters.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

(REVISED)

I haven't been able to find every single book in the series yet, so I’ve skipped some books. The last one I read was the third one. I had to skip two books but it doesn’t seem like I missed a thing. I feel that is one of the things that the author does extremely well. Each book feeds off the other but instead of just starting new subjects in the next book it kind of catches me up throughout the book. There were some moments where I was reading and it had some events that had happened in prior books that I hadn't read and I feel he did an amazing job of describing how everything connected with everything else. This series is about a group of four kids who got left behind by God because they never officially claimed their religion. God took everyone in their family except for them, but even if God didn't take them they ended up dying anyway. It doesn't take place in one specific location because they travel a lot. For example Vickie (one of the main characters) took a road trip to find her brothers friend in Michigan. There are a lot of internal conflicts in the book such as Judd and the way he thinks that just because he is the oldest he has to take care of the children, but on the other hand he doesn’t want to be irresponsible and be the reason that one of them gets seriously injured, and causes a burden on him and the people in the house. There are also a lot of external conflicts such as Judd, Vickie, Ryan, and Lionell, having to go back to school which is a new school where they brought all the middle school and high school aged kids that are left in the world together to learn about what happened. Even though the students talked about it on their own, no matter how hard the teachers tried to avoid the subject; it always started an argument in the class.

In my perspective the protagonist on one hand are the children in themselves and on another hand God. The antagonist can also be the children, and the devil for various reasons. The kids are pro and antagonists because they fight with themselves a lot but in the end they always end up making the right choices. And I say God and the devil because the devil is coming up to earth and making Peace Treaties with places like Iraq that he knows isn't going to work out. God is the Protagonist because he is doing his best to get as many people up to Heaven as he can before all hell breaks out on earth. When Judd and Vickie get back to school spreading the word isn't as easy as they thought it would be. They are faced with people who don't believe that God is the one who did this and people that think it was a science experiment gone wrong. At the end Vickie comes up with an amazing way to spread the word a lot easier.

[Dylan Dreyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I learned from this book is that it is always hard to spread the word of God to other people, especially when you feel like your alone. What I learned from this book is that you have to try to spread the word of God even if no one is with you. So try to get some of your really close friends to help you try to spread the word of God so no one will miss the rapture. Like when Judd and Viki were sitting in there classes the first day back after the rapture everybody else didn't want to really say anything but Judd and Viki tried to talk about what they thought happened and why. So they were trying to perservere and not let anything get in their way of telling people what they believed and I think that is what you should do. That is what I thought of the book.