Vivian Apple Needs a Miracle

Starred review from September 7, 2015
In Coyle's pointed sequel to Vivian Apple at the End of the World, Vivian and her best friend, Harp, have just finished their cross-country adventure in a post-Rapture world. After falling in with a group of militia fighters and reconnecting with Vivian's sister, they launch a new mission: to save Vivian's love interest, Peter, who has been captured by the Church of America. Coyle dials back the urgency of her debut, adopting a more languid pace while still delivering plenty of action. This time, Vivian's journey is less personally transformative, instead taking a broader look at the sacrifices others have made to survive as the Church of America churns out merchandise from a global network of sweatshops and allows the rich and elite to dodge the stringent rules that keep the rest of the devout in line. As Vivian and Harp attempt to solve the mystery of the faked Rapture in an effort to expose the Church as a fraud, Coyle again offers searing commentary on present-day religiosity and consumerism. Ages 12âup. Agent: Sarah Burnes, Gernert Company.

Vivian Apple may or may not get the miracle she needs, but she gets very lucky with Julia Whelan's top-notch performance. Having survived a staged "Rapture" in which thousands disappeared, Vivian and her best friend, Harpreet, are determined to expose the scam being perpetrated by Pastor Frick and his Church of America. As Viv and Harp get deeper into Frick's sinister workings, Whelan keeps the action fast paced and the characters credible. When the church predicts a second Rapture, Viv and Harp hook up with a radical group that is determined to destroy the church by violence. As good as Whelan's performance is, this is not a stand-alone novel. Listeners should first acquaint themselves with VIVIAN APPLE AT THE END OF THE WORLD. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine