The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Author: Rebecca Skloot
Publisher: 2010, Broadway Books
Lexile Measure: 1140L
Classification: Non-fiction

Summary:
This novel, a New York Times Bestseller, describes the life, death, and cellular afterlife of an African American woman, Henrietta Lacks, who died of cervical cancer in 1951.  Her cells, taken without her knowledge, divided like none others before and became a vital medical tool still in use today.  Despite the millions of cells bought and sold since then, her family received neither monetary compensation, thanks, nor understanding of what the cells really are and how they are used.


This book tells Henrietta’s story and discusses the race relations and medical practices that shaped, and continue to shape, her family.

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Language:
This is a work of nonfiction, and (with one exception on p. 283) profanity comes from interview subjects, not the author.

Profanity includes:

• h*ll,  p. 81
  
• b*tch, p. 112
  
• sl*t, p. 113
  
• wh*re,  p. 115
  
• *ss, p. 146, 262
  
• m*therf*cking, p. 146
  
• f*ck, p. 283
  
• d*mn, p. 247
  
• The “N” word, p. 248
  

Drug and Alcohol Use:
Drinking and drug use are not glorified in any way, but the book mentions characters getting drunk and smoking cigarettes.  See, for example, pp. 24, 123, 146-147.

Violence and Crime:

• After Henrietta died, her sister took custody of her children.  She abused them, denying them food, hitting them with extension cords, fists and furniture, locking them in basements, and tying them up. 
• As a result of this mistreatment, one of Henrietta’s children, Joe, becomes an occasionally violent and disturbed man.  See, for example, pp. 112-113.
  
• A relative sexually abuses and beats Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah.  See, pp. 113-117.
  
• Henrietta’s son, Joe, commits crimes (including murder), abuses alcohol, and has problems with the law.  See, e.g., pp. 145-151.
  
• Deborah’s husband, Cheetah, abuses her and uses drugs and alcohol (p. 149-151).
  
• Deborah becomes angry and assaults the author on pp. 283-284.
  

Sexual Content:
This book contains little in the way of sexual content.  It is, however, a story that began with Henrietta dying of a virulent form of cervical cancer.  Her cancer and her anatomy are mentioned in a non-salacious, non-gratuitous way throughout.

• See, for example, pp. 14-17, where Henrietta, after noticing vaginal spotting, examined herself and found a lump on her cervix.  Then, a gynecologist examined her.  On pp. 40-41, doctors continued their treatments, including examinations of her vagina and anus. 
  
• Henrietta’s daughter also suffered sexual abuse and molestation at the hands of her uncle and cousins until an aunt intervened and protected her.   See, pp. 113-117.
  
• The book also discusses Henrietta’s husband’s infidelity and its consequences, including syphilis and Human Papilloma Virus.  See examples, pp. 213-214, 265, 282. 
  
• Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah, got pregnant in high school (p. 144).

Other:

• Henrietta’s ancestors were slaves.  The book discusses race relations in contemporary society as well as during the slave era (including a relationship between a slave and her owner).  See, for example, pp. 122-126.
• Additionally, the book discusses, but does not dwell on, the religious beliefs of Henrietta’s family.
  

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Other Helpful Reviews:

• Good Reads
  
• Washington Post
  
• New York Times