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Dead narrators in literature, plays, and film aren’t uncommon, especially when one considers ghosts, zombies, and other supernatural beings that are dead, but… not. We’ve compiled a list of a few books that utilize the trope of posthumous narration without going the supernatural route.

[Movie till from The Great Gatsby 2013, Warner Bros.]

Tomorrow is Be a Millionaire Day. Strange holiday, but hey, it gives these fictional millionaires a chance to pass on some of their wisdom to you. It’s up to you to decide if it’s advice worth following.

[Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash]

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been making heart eyes at the Everything, Everything trailer for the last few months. And while we’re busy mentally matching scenes from the book with frames from the trailer, Amandla Stenberg is busy making more movies based on our favorite books. So, grab a bag of popcorn and settle in as we geek out about Amandla Stenberg’s incredible literary resume.

Rue from The Hunger Games (2012)

Amandla Stenberg captured our bookworm hearts with her supporting role as Rue in the first installment of The Hunger Games, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. Her heartbreaking portrayal of Rue, a competitor from District 11, was short-lived but essential in the story’s four-film saga. Stenberg was just 13 years old when the movie was released, setting in motion what is sure to be a long and fruitful career.  

Macey Irving from Sleepy Hollow (2013 – 2014)

In 2013, Amandla Stenberg turned to television, guest starring on Sleepy Hollow, a modern adaptation of Washington Irving’s 1820 short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. In her small screen debut, Stenberg portrayed Macey Irving, daughter of Police Captain Frank Irving. Stenberg’s season one arc only lasted four episodes, but how many teenagers can claim a television credit where they were possessed by a demon?

Ruby from The Darkest Minds (2018)

With Everything, Everything in theaters, Amandla Stenberg is hard at work filming her next bookish project. The Darkest Minds, based on the series by Alexandra Braken and co-starring Mandy Moore, is anticipated to be in theaters next year so start your countdown now. There’s still so much we don’t know about this movie, but long-time fans of The Darkest Minds know Ruby as a survivor of the plague that killed 98% of the population and the recipient of a new set of supernatural powers. If you’re looking for us, we’ll be over here refreshing Alexandra Braken’s Twitter page for the next year.

Starr from The Hate U Give (in development)

Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give is so incredible that the movie rights were acquired a year before the book was released. Can you imagine? Amandla Stenberg was attached to play Starr from the beginning, paired with director George Tillman, Jr. of This is Us and Luke Cage fame and screenwriter Audrey Wells, known for her adapatation of Under the Tuscan Sun. The movie hasn’t even begun filming yet, so there’s a lot of exciting news on the way. In the meantime, we’ll be hanging out on Angie Thomas’ Tumblr and buying copies of The Hate U Give for everyone we know.

[Movie still from Alien, 20th Century Fox]

The much anticipated Alien: Covenant film hits theaters this weekend. To prepare, you could read one of the many books set in the Alien universe (and you totally should!) . . . or you could check out one of our non-chest bursting sci-fi recommendations. At any rate, keep an eye out for face huggers.

Who has time to read a whole novel these days? With expediency in mind, here are classic works of literature condensed to that most indispensable of poetic forms, the limerick.

Les Miserables

Val Jean, who stole a baguette

Leaves prison without paying his debt

During the French Revolution

He finds a solution:

Be a good dad to his daughter, Cosette

Oliver Twist

Oliver was a boy who was born poor

And caused a row when he asked for more

He falls in with thieves,

Escapes his half-brother’s misdeeds

And declines to settle the score

The Handmaid’s Tale

Offred had her rights removed

By a regime that just wanted her brood

But the Mayday resistance

Offers questionable assistance

And despite qualms, Offred vamoosed

Beloved

Sethe and Denver answer a ghost’s call

And let her have the run of the hall

But as the ghost hangs around

Denver calls in the town

Because slavery leaves scars on us all

The Great Gatsby

Gatsby has himself a scheme

To re-seduce the girl of his dreams

But a billboard with eyes

Watches all of his lies

And he ends up floating downstream

Ulysses

Both Dedalus and Bloom profess

That philosophy is anyone’s guess

They pad around Dublin

Both pub-out and pub-in

But it all hinges on Molly’s “Yes”

Pride & Prejudice

Liz had a poor opinion of Darcy

Because he did not like to party

But as she got to know him

Her love began to grow in

Though she told him off for being a smarty!

A mention of the word ‘scurvy’ often brings to mind pirates, but you might not be aware that scurvy is a very real and still relevant issue. Scurvy is a condition caused by a lack of vitamin C, which causes tiredness, muscle weakness, rashes, and bleeding gums. Pirates often suffered from scurvy due to the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables while sailing the seven seas. May 2^nd is Scurvy Awareness Day, so to do our part, we’re highlighting 5 swashbuckling stories about pirates! The Limestrong website also recommends making your cat a fruit helmet and sharing via social media, which we also fully endorse. Yes, there are pictures for inspiration!