Summary of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a non-fiction book by American author Rebecca Skloot, published in 2010. The book chronicles the life of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cervical cancer cells were taken without her knowledge and used to create the first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa. The book focuses on the ethical and legal issues surrounding the use of HeLa cells in medical research, as well as the family’s struggle to gain access to the medical records and treatments of their beloved matriarch. The story is told through the eyes of Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah Lacks, as she learns about her mother’s life and legacy. The book also examines the history of medical research and its impact on African American communities.