Mortality & Death

"Nothing can be said to be certain," wrote Ben Franklin, "except death and taxes." And yet, death is often ignored, dismissed, or delayed as an experience worth contemplating—until we are forced to reckon with it head-on. The books in this collection do their own reckoning.

Reasons to Stay Alive

by Matt Haig

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, Disability, Masculinity, Fear, Self Discovery, Death, Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Self-Improvement, Psychology, Health, Depression & Suicide, Inspirational, Mental Illness, Psychology, Biography

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Rebecca

by Daphne du Maurier

Publication year 1938

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Death, Social Class, Coming of Age, Loyalty & Betrayal, The Past, Hate & Anger, Marriage, Fear, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Beauty, Appearance & Reality, Power & Greed, Grief, Conflict, Memory, Truth & Lies, Loneliness

Tags British Literature, Romance, Classic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Dramatic Literature, Gothic Literature, Modernism, Horror & Suspense, Historical Fiction

Rebecca, a bestselling novel by famed English writer Daphne du Maurier, was published in 1938, and has never gone out of print. The winner of the National Book Award for favorite novel of 1938, Rebecca has been adapted numerous times, including Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film version, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and a 1997 television miniseries. It was most recently adapted for a Netflix film in 2020 by the same name. Rebecca... Read Rebecca Summary

Reckless

by Lauren Roberts

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Love, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Children`s Literature, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

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Relic

by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Death, Animals, Plants, Teamwork, Politics & Government, Science & Technology

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fantasy

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Remain

by Nicholas Sparks, M. Night Shyamalan

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Grief, Love, Memory, Mental Health, Midlife, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, New Age, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Fantasy

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Renegades

by Marissa Meyer

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Death, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

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Resist

by Alan Gratz

Publication year 2019

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Childhood & Youth, Death, Animals, Place, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Wins & Losses

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Children`s Literature

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Rez Ball

by Byron Graves

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Memory, Shame & Pride, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Fathers, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Sports, Grief & Death

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Richard Cory

by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Publication year 1897

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Death

Tags Narrative Poem, Depression & Suicide, American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

“Richard Cory” (1897), arguably Edwin Arlington Robinson’s most famous poem, is about perspective and realizing that everything is not always what it seems. About 10 years before the poem was published in a collection, entitled Children of the Night, the United States had experienced a series of economic depressions. The consequences of these economic downturns appear throughout this poem in Robinson’s notorious cynicism, which creates a bleak tone of irony. This situates the poem comfortably... Read Richard Cory Summary

Riders to the Sea

by John Millington Synge

Publication year 1904

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Grief, Fate, Apathy, Conflict, Perseverance, Death, Environment, Mothers, Siblings, Nation

Tags Tragedy, Irish Literature

Riders to the Sea (1904) is a one-act Irish play by John Millington Synge, originally performed in the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. The play portrays the events of one day in the cottage of a low-income family living on Inishmaan, one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland, as they cope with the loss of male relatives to the rough waters between the islands and mainland Ireland. This short play incorporates themes... Read Riders to the Sea Summary

Rise To Rebellion

by Jeff Shaara

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Revenge, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Place, Family, Fathers, Marriage, Teamwork, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Power & Greed

Tags World History, American Revolution, Historical Fiction, Military & War, US History

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Rouge

by Mona Awad

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Beauty, Death, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Gothic Literature

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Running Loose

by Chris Crutcher

Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Coming of Age, Death

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction

Running Loose (1983) is Chris Crutcher’s debut young adult novel. It follows high school senior Louie Banks, a member of the football team in his small town who navigates the typical challenges of adolescence. His life takes a dramatic turn when, during a football game, Louie faces a racist incident, resulting in his expulsion from the team. This event sets off a chain reaction, forcing Louie to confront deeper personal and community issues that ultimately... Read Running Loose Summary