Second Chance: The Search for Truth

Left Behind: The Kids #2

by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye

While the kids are dealing with the loss of their families and strengthening their faith, they become involved with criminals who are tied to Lionel's uncle Andre. Hearing that Andre has committed suicide, Lionel goes to the morgue, but finds that the body there is not Andre's.

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

3 pages, Audio Cassette

First published June 26, 1998

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

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

About this book:

“Faced with the truth behind the disappearances, Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan have decisions to make. Will they accept Christ’s forgiveness, or will they blame God for abandoning them and taking away their families?
While the others are making their decisions, Lionel get a disturbing message from his Uncle André. Afraid his uncle is going to take his own life, Lionel rushes to Chicago, praying he’ll reach André before it’s too late.”


Series: Book #2 (of forty) in “Left Behind: The Kids” series. (Review of book #1, Here!)


Spiritual Content- The Rapture has happened (all four main characters were left behind); Witnessing & getting saved; Prayers; Many Talks about God, Jesus, trusting & the Rapture; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; At first Judd is mad at God; Ryan doesn’t want to believe; Many mentions of Church & faiths; Many mentions of Heaven & Hell; Mentions of Bible reading.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘dumb’s, two ‘wuss’es, and four ‘stupid’s; Pain (barely-above-not-detailed); Lionel & Ryan bicker at each other; Mentions of drunks, drugs, smoking & brawls; Mentions of looters & robberies; Mentions of crimes & bad guys; Mentions of suicide, murder & killing; Mentions of bodies & morgues; A morgue & dead bodies (barely-above-not-detailed); An urge to kill someone.


Sexual Content- a ‘babe’, a form of ‘hot’, and a ‘sexy’; Mentions of noticing & feelings; Mentions of dating; Mentions of Judd & Vicki loving together at his house after the Rapture (but they both say it’s a brother-sister relationship and they’re doing nothing wrong. Judd says he won’t take advantage of Vicki (which he doesn’t)).

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

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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.}
Ahh, my first ever ship = Judd & Vicki. Gotta be honest though, I still have a hard time when grown men write the point of view of a teenage girl. These authors do a pretty good job, but it’s still a bit weird to me. Lots of repeating from the first book, but that’s pretty normal for a series. ;)


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.

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

A Quickie Review

Not just "more of the same," this one shows the kids beginning to work together and has a little intensity, along with a cliffhanger ending.  Even if you felt The Vanishings was slightly lackluster, you should give this series a Second Chance by reading this book before leaving the series behind.



Score: 4.25/5

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging read. The story revolves around 4 kids: Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan. They were left behind during the rapture. In this installment, I thought the story was great. It continues with the 4 kids at New Hope Village Church after learning what happened to the world and they are confused and wondering what to do. The story then makes two separate stories: One follows Lionel and Ryan, while the other follows Judd and Vicki.

I thought the characters were great. I felt bad for Vicki as she had went through a lot in this book and at the young age of 14 years old. Judd is still thinking he is cool; however, we get to see a shy and embarrassed side to him during his story with Vicki. Lionel is still my favourite. He believes he loses his uncle and that he is all alone. Ryan lost his parents. I felt his character was only thinking about himself. I thought he should have been more open-hearted and open-minded. I thought his character was the worst of all 4.

The ending was a bit of a let down for me. However, I did not expect that plot twist in the end. As a Christian, I thought the writing was powerful. The story was great, and engaged. I can't wait to see the journey that these kids have to go through. I am excited to see what is in stored. I feel like the story will be more exciting. I can't wait to read Book 3. Overall, a great read.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series is starting to get more of a plot I feel. There seems to be more control in the small group with all of them coming together at the New Hope Church. They are trying to figure out what they are going to do next. The book splits it up into 2 different groups which include Vicki and Judd then Lionel and Ryan. Ryan is the only one in the entire group that doesn't believe that God can help because he is the only one left due to his parents actually being dead. He doesn't know what to think but is with the group still because he has nowhere else to go. I hope the books start to pick up because there isn't really much happening to hold my interest. I remember reading this one when I was younger and I remember how much changes throughout the books so I'll continue until I finish this series. The writing makes the book fast-paced and the characters are kind of easy to relate to. I find it odd how they just switch over their views on God in just a matter of minutes.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the first book. I got a more indepth feel for the characters. A bit more seemed to happen in this one. It was heartbreaking to watch these kids figure out where to live all for different reasons. I really like how it continues to bring Rayford, Chloe and especially Bruce into the story, even if in small forms. It had me wondering what are the police going to do with all the orphans, vandals, etc. So much chaos!

[Spork · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the one where the kids all move in together. It’s exactly as concerning as it sounds.

It starts with Judd and Vicki driving to the airport to retrieve Judd’s father’s car. Along the way, they discuss how they got saved (this happens off-screen at some vague point between the two books). They also reflect on the fact that they never would have met due to the difference in socioeconomic status between them if not for the rapture. The authors lay the groundwork for a future romance between Judd and Vicki.

After that, Vicki returns to the trailer park only to discover that her trailer has been burnt down by looters. She now has nowhere to go, but that’s okay because Judd offers to let her move in with him. Vicki also has no clothes aside from the ones she’s wearing, but that’s okay because Judd offers to let her wear his mother’s clothes (!!!). He states that his mother is about Vicki’s size and tells Vicki that he’s proud of his mom (for being so small? Unclear! And I should add that this is quite weird in the context of the two of them tentatively beginning to crush on one another).

While Vicki and Judd are settling into Judd’s house, Lionel and Ryan encounter a problem. Remember Uncle Andre from book one? Well, his criminal associates have moved into Lionel’s house and are using it as a base of operations. Apparently they consider it payment of Andre’s debts to them. Lionel tries to convince Ryan to help him chase the two men off, but Ryan is scared and refuses. The book tries to portray this as an incredibly craven act, but Ryan has a point: what is a twelve-year-old, even an athletic one, going to do that will remotely tip the scales in their favor? Lionel tries to tell the men off by himself, and it goes about as well as it possibly could (they laugh at him and tell him he can stay with them if he wants, but they aren’t leaving).

So by the end of the book everyone has moved in with Judd. Judd has also watched a news program about a Romanian politician named Nicolae Carpathia. Remember that name–he’ll be coming back.

[Makenzie :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left behind kids book 2 (A Second Chance)
For me this was an engaging read! The story revolves around 4 kids: Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan. They were left behind during the rapture. It continues with the 4 kids at New Hope Village Church after learning what happened to the world and they are confused and wondering what to do. The story then makes two separate stories: One follows Lionel and Ryan, while the other follows Judd and Vicki.
I thought the writing was powerful. The story was great, and engaging. I can't wait to see the journey that these kids have to go through. I am excited to see what is in store. I feel like the story will get more and more exciting. Overall, a great read so far.
♥️Happy Reading♥️ JLY :)

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids were reading the book of Revelations in their Bible reading, so I got the idea to read this series together with them so that maybe they could have a more practical understanding of the book.
I can't say it is the most well written book, and one chapter about the teens getting a car out of a over-packed garage bored me and confused me. But behind that chapter, it was actually better than the first in the series.
And the ending even surprised me!
My kids seem interested in it, and that makes me the happiest. So on we read.

[charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so far I'm loving this series!!

Vicki:
I relate to her but then we're opposite. She has a nice personality and ever since she became a Christian she has had an awesome attitude!

Judd:
He seems like a decent person ever since he became a Christian! Good personality too.

Ryan:
I kinda feel bad for him, just knowing his parents are in hell and his bsf in heaven. Just imagine waking up to that. I feel him.

Lionel:
Nice guy! I'm glad he's trying to help Ryan out. I've got sympathy for him, ever since his uncle committed suicide.


I got the first part of the series(1-4) yesterday! And I have been enjoying it! Bonus it will help me finish my reading goal!

5 star!

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are fairly short -- I definitely like that! I think in this volume we got to know the kids just a smidge more than in the 1st book. We also find out how the kids spend their first nights alone, without their families. Judd retrieves his car from the airport, and Lionel deals with men moving into his house...

Qualifies for COYER Scavenger Hunt item #30.

[Ryan Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying the Left Behind - The Kids series. It’s quite neat seeing the overlapping between the original Left Behind books and these ones and how the kids are dealing with everything. Second Chance ever ends with a good cliff hanger that makes you want to jump right into the third book in the series.

[Bryce C]

In the book Second Chance by Jerry B. Jenkins. Judd, Vicki, Lionel and Ryan are left behind at a church. Their parents had left them. When they had gotten a shocking call from their Uncle that he was going to commit suicide. The only thing that left them to do was to try and save him. Later in the book Judd, Vicki, Lionel and Ryan are finding out that people are disappearing right out of their clothes. "He sat back down and turned the sound up. Breathless CNN announcers told strange stories from around the world as they showed videotaped images of people disappearing right out of their clothes. A husband videotaping his wife about to give birth caught the nurses uniform floating to the ground and his wife's high stomach going suddenly flat. The baby had disappeared." Judd warned Vicki, Lionel and Ryan about these incidents. This had made them more motivated to help Uncle. In this book all of the kids have to learn to believe and have hope in God that he can make everything alright. Judd, Vicki, Lionel and Ryan split up and go each their own ways to get to Uncle. In this book the characters had symbolized God. But in the ending Uncle sadly committed suicide before others could help.

[Reagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the vanishings Judd Vicki Lionel and Ryan have been trying to find the truth. Meanwhile, Lionel gets a disturbing voice message from his Uncle Andre saying he is going to commit suicide. While Ryan and Lionel head there way to Chicago Judd and Vicki try to unwind Judd's car out of the airport parking lot. Where will this nightmare take them and when will it end?

I personally think that at the beginning of the book it was a waste of time. Although, it wasn't bad enough for me to quit reading it, because as the story continued it seemed to get better and better.It is almost like the author realized his mistakes as the book continued. Lionel acts terrible to Ryan which I hate, because Lionel is acting like he knows everything and Ryan knows nothing. Although, Judd and Vicki act like they are best friends, they treat each other great. It got me to read the other books too.

I recommend to read this book even though it seems boring at first.

[Gabby]

I didn't know that once Jesus comes&gets his children that the people who are left behind have a second chance

[Kymberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved these books. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. :)

[Ashley W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review:
http://beautifullybookish.booklikes.c...

[Rob · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first book wasn’t very good, but it at least had a big event to align around, with the rapture occurring about halfway through the page count. This book is in the immediate aftermath, picking up right where the last book left off. At the very least, this book spares the reader multiple pages of direct preaching in favor of following some semblance of a storyline, but there isn’t much story here.

Our main characters all meet together at the church, having obviously concluded that the event they’ve been through is the rapture, and from there, they split their own separate ways into two groups: Judd and Vicki, who are kinda grossly foreshadowed as the series’ traditional couple, and Ryan and Lionel, who would actually make a pretty awesome gay pairing, but that’s definitely something you’ll never see in one of these books.

Anyhow, Lionel discovers his family’s house has been taken over by criminals for some reason, his uncle is (maybe?) dead, and Ryan’s house has been broken into, and meanwhile, Vicki’s trailer has been burned to the ground because the plot demands all the characters live under the same roof eventually. This leaves Judd as the Leonardo of these Teenage Mutant Ninja Christians. There’s a couple moments of crossover with the OG LB series that I would probably recognize if I had any remote interest in reading those books, and there’s a few name drops of our obvious future Antichrist, Nicolae.

Otherwise, this is a colossally boring 130 page slog. The book wants to make it clear that these are circumstances you don’t want to live through (get saved, see?) and pretty quickly positions the reader between a genuinely unpleasant set of present circumstances and a Christian God who’s going to intervene in this whole train wreck anyway. There’s at least some lip service to the idea of emotionally complicated reactions to the idea of living through something as big and traumatic as the rapture, but the story goes out of its way to present becoming Christian as an obvious inevitability, and there’s just not really a lot of room for nuanced emotional navigation to bring the characters to the obvious conclusion of Christianity. These books more egregiously seem to have been written as witnessing tools rather than as gratifying stories, which means a massive lack of depth and a propagandistic simplicity to the message. I was hoping that reading this series would lead to at least some so-bad-it’s-good moments, but there aren’t really a lot of those by the conclusion of book two.

[Ardae Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This section was the immediate result of book 1. The kids find out that they have a “second
chance” of going to heaven and for most of them seeing their family again. Judd and Lionel knew the truth and Vicki rebelled against the truth. Ryan was skeptical of the truth and considered it “mumbo
jumbo.”They went on with their lives after they heard the things that they needed to hear. So, Judd
and Vicki went with each other and Lionel and Ryan went with each other. Judd asked Vicki to go with
him to the airport and pick up his car and Vicki accompanied him there. Lionel ran after Ryan so they
both wouldn’t be alone. They all decided at this time that it wasn’t best to be alone so they ran off and
split in 2. Judd had to learn how to live with what he left the house for, independance, this for him
unasked for wasn’t the best and that he must go one with his life depending on Jesus for the next 7.5
years of his life. Vicki went back to the trailer after helping Judd get his car out of the parking garage
for 7 hours and found a burnt trailer with no remains. She then had to pray and Judd and Vicki both
came to Christ. They decided that they would live in Judd’s residence and be happy and no they didn’t
date. Lionel and Ryan went to Ryan’s house and they watched the news to discover that his parents are
dead. Though they weren’t “caught up” in the rapture leaving everything but flesh and bone he didn’t
want to go back into the house and Lionel tried to force him into his house. Due to this reason, Ryan
made a tent in his backyard. Lionel went home to pack this to live with Ryan and he answers the
answer machine and finds many recording but stumbles upon Uncle Andre and him with a suicide notice.
They went and found police who stated they found him dead. Then Lionel returns home to find the
people Andre owed money to moving into his home and stating they own it until Andre, who is dead, can
pay (I know his dead what more do they want.) They all circle they’re problems with 75% of them
coming to Jesus and only one who didn't. Ryan remained skeptical like he is and the story ends with
Lionel and Judd going to claim Andre’s body.

[Brayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second chance novel by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins is fabulous. It’s about 4 kids who all are struggling trying to survive . But it isn’t easy because they have many obstacles testing their faith.

The setting is Exceptional because of how realistic and creative it is. One of the settings being in the Streets if New York, where Lionel is looking for his uncle who may not even be alive. The second setting is of Judd, Vicki, and Ryan in a apartment in New York just trying to survive. The reason this is so exceptional and realistic is because of if this were to happen this would most likely happen. If it were to be any different it would not be realistic them being in Judds dead parents apartment with 4 other kids he didn’t know a few months ago.

The characters are brilliant from how mature they are at such a young age surviving and keeping faith through these terrific events. One of the reasons being Vicki being only 14 years old and having to keep faith with strangers. Judd acting all fine but inside him it's a madhouse. Well Ryan’s lost his parents trying to figure out where he is in life and being the most selfish of all. Lastly Lionel having a huge life decision vid he’s going to stay or find his uncle that’s supposedly crazy and may not be alive.

I liked this book a lot with these kids being close to my age acting like adults trying to survive the worst possible life scenario. I would most definitely give this book a 5/5 and would recommend anyone looking for a very extrodinary book.

[Petra T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book because the first book caught my attention. I highly recommend reading the first book before you start this one. Lionel is the only one of the four kids who have someone left in his family. His uncle Andre and Lionel always kept it a secret they were not Christians. After the disappearances, Andre had ran away mad at himself and decided to join his ‘criminal group’. Lionel goes to search for his uncle, but then he discovers his uncle committed suicide. He goes to the morgue to see his body but the book suddenly reveals the body is not Andre’s. Will Lionel find his uncle?

[Discovery Studio]

Left Behind 2 (the kids) is a science fiction written by Tim LaHaye. That shows the rapture and tribulation through the eyes of four young friends, Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan. In this book Lionel gets a disturbing message from his uncle. Afraid he is going to take his own life Lionel rushes down to his uncle. while Judd, Vicki, and Lionel have come to Christ but Ryan has not made his choice yet.

This is a good I like it a lot because it helps me learn about my religion. I was never expecting what I read next every page is a twist. Its a great book and I think others would enjoy it.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know these books came out years ago, but I'm reading them along side my 15 year old son. Teenagers seem to have a hard time with what to believe, with everything changing inside their bodies. I figured having him read about other teens who struggled with their faith, might help him solidify his. He has read the book of Revelations, he feels the same way I do...it's not scary to know one day Jesus will return and take the believers home. Home to a place you can only imagine while on this earth.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was much better than the first one, but that is probably because the first one was more background information now it more storyline stuff. I like how all the kids are staying at Judd’s house. And I kinda want Judd and Vicki to be together in the future. It is nice how they are getting closer and becoming a family now.

[Becca Avila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is GREAT, I love all the Left Behind Series for kids. I have read #31 out of 40 of them and absolutely love them. Since they are so small and thin I read like ten of them in a day. But they are so good.
If yoou keep reading the series they become more and more thrilling. They books are one of the best series I have ever read.

[Jasmine Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me feel better about a lot of things in life. I feel closer to God and closer to seeing how life can really be so scary and stressful but that knowing God and keeping faith really makes all the difference.

[Julie D. Hallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

It is a prediction of what is going to happen when jesus comes back to take his people to heaven. It is on the basis of what the Bible tells us in Revelations. The book /series keeps you wondering what is coming next. I can't put it down.

[Lauren Stratmeyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reads like the authors are shoving the Christian religion down children's throats, almost seems like they are shaming kids that aren't Christian. Also describes accepting Jesus as a complete personality changer. Like you don't have to put in the work to change, it just comes naturally.

[Anna Schwirian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

This was pretty good it basically delt with the children coming to terms with everything going on. It honestly could have been combined with the first book to make one book but otherwise it was good.

[Barbara Dougherty Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - Just Wow!

Absolutely riveting. Excited bto continue the series to find out what happens next. Really hoping they all make it to the glorious appearing and none of the die along the way.

[Evan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and I really want to read the others of this series.