Yum! I love non-fiction books with a good "plot." This book was amazing.
This is the story of Henrietta Lacks, who died in the 50s of cervical cancer (and probably radiation poisoning). The doctors took some of her cancer cells to try and grow them in a lab, something that they had been doing for years, with disappointing results. But lo and behold! Henrietta's cells grew like gangbusters! Over the years, scientists used her cells to test vaccines, the atomic bomb, and even the effects of space travel on human cells. But this is only half the story. The other half of the story is the beautiful relationship the author developed with Henrietta's children: specifically her only living daughter, Deborah.
While labs are selling vials of HeLa cells for hundreds of dollars, Henrietta's children and grandchildren struggle with poverty.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys really interesting non-fiction. Like Devil in the White City or Outliers...
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