Book Report: The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal LIfe of Henrietta Lacks is the story of cell research developing and the story of Rebecca Skloot and Deborah Lacks learning about the elusive Henrietta Lacks. It is a true story written by Skloot, and was eventually published February 10, 2010. The author also does a good job of joining the scientific aspects of Henrietta’s life while still holding on to the social aspects of the book, as well as making it easy to read for people who don’t know much about the going ons of science. The book begins in 1920 when Jim Crow laws still existed and segregation was at large. On August 1, 1920 Henrietta Lacks was born and was later given to her grandfather Tommy Lacks in Clover, Virginia. She grew up in a segregated community and dropped …show more content…
In the first phone call Deborah was very talkative and liked the Idea of writing book about her mother, but on the second she stated that the men in the family would decide if she could talk to Rebecca. Back in 1951 Henrietta continually went to treatments and the cancer soon spread and grew rapidly. It seemed to overpower the doctors as well as Henrietta causing major discomfort and pain. Rebecca had tried to find members of the Lacks family in Turner Station. She failed to find any real information there except a short BBC documentary, so she headed to clover. In Clover Rebecca found Skoot, one of Henrietta’s cousins who told her some stories about Henrietta. The tumors had spread across Henrietta’s body causing extreme pain, and made her thrash and scream in the hospital. Henrietta Lacks died 12:15 am on October 4, 1951. After Henrietta died Dr. Gey wanted to take cell samples from Henrietta, but Day continually refused him access to her body. Day finally gave Dr. Gey access when he was told that it could later help his children. During the autopsy Gey’s assistant had an awakening and saw Henrietta's corpse as a person instead of a meat sack when she