I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. It wasn't a bad book, just a long mostly boring book. The book unfolds in four different characters voices; a young boy, a CASA volunteer (think social worker), a wounded veteran and a middle-aged woman facing a divorce. The first half of the book is essentially a character study of these four people. That, in my opinion is the first major problem with the book. Any book that requires the reader to get 50% through the book before anything happens, will have lost most readers. However, I kept sloughing through hoping it would get better. While it did, it wasn't enough to save this book.
The second major problem with We Are Called To Rise is the ending. While the author spent the first half of the book setting it up, the ending seemed too rushed and just too neat and convenient. It was a happily ever after all, neatly tied in a bow, redemption of humanity ending. Perhaps the author thought this ending would alleviate the sad, gloomy tone of the rest of the book. It didn't. It just felt like a saccharin overload.
I would like to give this book more than one star, but I just can't. Since this is a debut novel for Ms. McBride, perhaps her next novel will be better.
Bottom line: if you're stranded on a desert island with this book, go ahead and read it. Otherwise, there are far too many good books out there.