The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks combines the true story of a poor black family in the mid- twentieth century and the course of scientific discovery, as cellular technology unfolds in the laboratories. The stories are told in a very personal way, exploring the personalities of the people involved. As you read the book, you will come up with many questions. Choose one of them to explore as you write your research paper.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca Skloot (1972 - ) is a narrative science writer with training in veterinary sciences, biological sciences and creative writing. She comes from an imaginative family; her father is a poet and novelist, her mother is a knitting designer, and her stepmother, a painter. While working on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Skloot wrote over 200 other articles, helping her to make a living and to establish her credentials during her ten years of research. She has taught at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Memphis and New York University and she currently lives in Chicago. Skloot approaches life with wit, humor and a lot of energy. She often writes using a treadmill desk and has a "step writing" competition with other writers.