Vivian Apple at the End of the World

Reviewed by: Cidney Mayes - Wells Public Library, Wells, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 9, 2015

Review

Seventeen year old Vivian Apple is sure that the Rapture will blow over without incident, and that everything will go back to normal once everyone comes back to their senses, including her parents. Set in a modern America where a religion headed by Beaton Frick, called the Church of America, capitalizes on its Believers in every sense of the word, ("SPRING into the eternal kingdom in this sweet pale gold romper! Only $145 on the Church of America website!"), Vivian is an adamant non-Believer. However, after returning home after the night of the Rapture and finding her parents missing along with thousands of others, Vivian begins to wonder if Frick's prophesies might be true. When a rumor reaches her of a secret compound in California where Frick and his Believers may be hiding, she sets off with her best friend Harp and new ally Peter in a desperate search for truth across America. Packed with satire, irreverent humor, and thorough character development, Coyle's novel offers a unique end-of-the-world scenario that draws parallels between Vivian’s America and our own. An open-ended conclusion to the book leaves room for this epic road trip to continue in further books. Recommended for libraries with an audience for apocalyptic scenarios and strong female characters.

Overall Book Score: excellent