How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and. At the same time, people advocating for this book are advocating for patient privacy. Known to science as hela, the first immortal human cells grown in culture are still alive today, and have been bought and sold by the millions. Rebecca skloot later wrote a popular book on the subject, called the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks southfield public library. Cells taken from her body without her knowledge were used to form the hela cell line. In 1951, a young mother of five named henrietta lacks visited the johns hopkins hospital complaining of vaginal bleeding. Henrietta lacks was born on august 1, 1920, in roanoke, virginia. The immortal life of henrietta lacks, skloot, rebecca. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction. The question and answer section for the immortal life of henrietta lacks is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
Discussion questions for the immortal life of henrietta lacks 1. In addition to discussion questions, the guide also includes writing prompts and topics for further discussion. What does the book educate us concerning prejudice in american culture. Attempt to discover instances of prejudice, both during henriettas lifetime 1920s 1950s and after her passing 1950s present day. In your opinion, what were the most interesting parts of the book. On page xiii, rebecca skloot states, this is a work of nonfiction. Id finished the immortal life of henrietta lacks just in time for my book club meeting. Race and racism are woven throughout the book, both in the story presented and in the process of the research for the book. The immortal life of henrietta lacks skloot discussion. The immortal life of henrietta lacks questions and answers. Consider the process skloot went through to verify dialogue, re.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. No names have been changed, no characters invented, no events fabricated. Real simple selected the immortal life for their no obligation book club. Discussion questions for the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Skloot describes a photo of henrietta lacks that she keeps on her wall. However, as much as i searched, i was unable to find a published discussion guide for the book. Do you want to share this book with your reading club. What did you knowthink about henrietta lacks before reading the book. We have tons of study questions for you here, all completely free. Jun 25, 2018 a lawyer representing the eldest son and two grandsons of henrietta lacks, whose immortal cells have been the subject of a bestselling book, a tv movie, a family feud, cuttingedge medical. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks themes gradesaver. Rebecca skloot and the immortal life of henrietta lacks. A journalist named rebecca skloot recounts learning about an african american woman named henrietta lacks, who died in 1951 of cervical cancer, but whose cancerous cells became the first immortal human cell line, called hela. Spigner teaches a course in the university of washingtons honors college based on the book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. What factors race, class, gender, the times do you think were responsible for henriettas cells being taken from her without her permission. Lackss case has sparked legal and ethical debates over the rights of an individual to. Feb 07, 2010 but the immortal life of henrietta lacks is much more than a portrait of the lacks family. Discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Discussion questions the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The case of henrietta lacks was a milestone for medical research and. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. The immortal life of henrietta lacks book discussion.
But the immortal life of henrietta lacks is much more than a portrait of the lacks family. Apr 04, 2017 intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, the immortal life of henrietta lacks soon to be an hbo film starring oprah winfrey and rose byrne captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences. When the story of henrietta lacks was ripped for an episode of law and order. Henrietta lacks, a poor southern tobacco farmer, was buried in an unmarked grave 60 years ago. Howard jones discovered a large, malignant tumor on her cervix. I recently jumped at the chance to participate in this bookbrowse club discussion since i wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It was the 2011 winner of the national academies communication award for best creative work that helps the public understanding of topics in science, engineering or medicine. Jul 26, 2019 rebecca skloot later wrote a popular book on the subject, called the immortal life of henrietta lacks. A lawyer representing the eldest son and two grandsons of henrietta lacks, whose immortal cells have been the subject of a bestselling book, a. Hundreds of book groups worldwide have read the immortal life with wonderful results below you will find information and resources designed to enhance your groups discussion of the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Oprah winfrey and rose byrne star in this adaptation of the criticallyacclaimed book. An interesting statement made at the beginning of the novel, henriettas cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown skloot, 2010, seems as if people should know about henrietta. I was so impacted by the story that i decided to choose it as a reading selection for my book club. As much as this book is about henrietta lacks, it is also about deborah learning of the mother she barely knew, while also finding out the truth.
The henrietta lacks foundation, a foundation established to, among other things, help provide scholarship funds and health insurance to henrietta lackss family. All last year, i read rave comments about the immortal life of henrietta lacks, yet it never found its way on my reading list. Ladys on the phone in rebecca skloots the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks summary shmoop.
What are the specific issues raised in the book legally and ethically. What factors race, class, gender, the times do you think were responsible for henrietta s cells being taken from her without her permission. Did you learn more about cell division than you knew before from reading this book. This is the basis for the american constitution and should include rights to the body as well as the spirit. Henrietta lacks was born august 1, 1920, into a family of impoverished tobacco farmers in roanoke, virginia. The aim of the bad bugs book club is to get people interested in. The immortal life of henrietta lacks skloot discussion questions 1. As much as this book is about henrietta lacks, it is also about deborah learning of the mother she barely knew, while also finding out the truth about her sister, elsie.
Henrietta lacks us message board political discussion forum. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cellstaken without her knowledge in 1951became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. In 1952 doctors took cells from henrietta lacks without asking. Discuss skloots relationship with deborah and the lacks family. It could not have turned out better and i was primed and. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book club. The official teachers guide for the immortal life of henrietta lacks. On page xiii, rebecca skloot states this is a work of nonfiction. Consider the process skloot went through to verify dialogue, recreate scenes, and establish facts. Was this attempt different from previous attempts to write. The immortal life of henrietta lacks questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the. From the 2010 virginia festival of the book in charlottesville, virginia, rebecca skloot discussed her book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot.
The book thats been on everyones best of lists, including amazons best book of 2010, the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot, is intimate in. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Yet her cells taken without her knowledge became one of the most important tools in medical research. Join the discussion of the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. The legacy of henrietta lacks johns hopkins hospital. Rebecca explains that hela made possible some of the most important discoveries of the 21st century, but that we know. Immortal life of henrietta lacks skloot discussion questions. The immortal life of henrietta lacks, rebecca skloot the immortal life of henrietta lacks 2010 is a nonfiction book by american author rebecca skloot. Imagine discovering similar information about one of your family members.
Can the immortal cells of henrietta lacks sue for their own. John lamparskiwireimage all i knew when i first called henriettas family was that hela cells were of the. It is also a critique of science that insists on ignoring the. The immortal life of henrietta lacks author rebecca skloot, april 2017. Skloots debut book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly became a new york times bestseller. As much as this book is about henrietta lacks, it is also about deborah learning of the mother. The question and answer section for the immortal life of henrietta lacks is a great resource to ask. The immortal life of henrietta lacks hardcover rebecca skloot goodreads author.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks is the story of an african american woman and her family that touches on many big issues. Lacks s case has sparked legal and ethical debates over the rights of an individual to. How do you feel about a white woman creating the narrative of this story. Was it a good thing for the members of the lacks family that the author wrote this book. Henrietta lacks as human beings, each person is born with certain inalienable rights. The immortal life of henrietta lacks essay questions gradesaver. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by by rebecca skloot. Jan 24, 2011 the book thats been on everyones best of lists, including amazons best book of 2010, the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot, is intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and.
Cancer took henrietta lacks, her cells brought forth new science, her family brought her story home. Discussion questions henrietta lacks libguides at texas. The immortal life of henrietta lacks was selected as the 201112 howard book connection book so you know it is worth the read. Are the needs family currently living in an equivalent society, or do they despite everything experience bigotry. Feb 11, 2020 the immortal life of henrietta lacks is the story of an african american woman and her family that touches on many big issues. Science writer rebecca skloot has always been obsessed with henrietta lacks, the africanamerican woman whose cancer cells were harvested and used to create an immortal cell line for scientific experimentation. At the time, the johns hopkins hospital was one of only a few hospitals to treat poor africanamericans. Aug 22, 2018 the immortal life of henrietta lacks author rebecca skloot, april 2017. Discussion questions pdf timeline pdf cast of characters pdf download the complete readers guide pdf. The immortal life of henrietta lacks rebecca skloot a broadway paperback isbn 9781400052189 a readers guide 10 discussion questions 1. The immortal life of henrietta lacks hardcover book discussion. When the immortal life of henrietta lacks showed up in the moviethink like a man as a tool for successfully picking up women in bookstores.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks discussion questions. The immortal life of henrietta lacks summary from litcharts. It was chosen as a best book of 2010 by more than sixty media outlets, including entertainment weekly, people, and the new york times. Start by unraveling the complicated history of henrietta lackss. However, as much as i searched, i was unable to find a published discussion guide for the book to facilitate a discussion. Back in march, i read the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Winner of bookbrowses 2010 best book award intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, the immortal life of henrietta lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences. Her name was henrietta lacks, but scientists know her as hela. How has medical science been advanced by the study of henrietta lacks cells. Series is made possible through the generosity of the. Oprah winfrey and hbo announced plans to develop a film based on skloots 2010 book and in. Jul 28, 2010 back in march, i read the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Because there isnt much information about henrietta and her family, skloot wants to tell their story.
The national network of libraries of medicine nnlm has made it easy to download the discussion. Discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca. The immortal life of henrietta lacks kindle edition by skloot, rebecca. Discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot in an online book club. Oct 08, 20 in 1952 doctors took cells from henrietta lacks without asking. Lacks died of cervical cancer on october 4, 1951, at age 31. The immortal life of henrietta lacks rebecca skloot.
Skloot was yet another white person asking the lacks family about henrietta. As much as this book is about henrietta lacks, it is also about deborah learning. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks a usf faculty discussion. It is also a critique of science that insists on ignoring the messy human provenance of its materials. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book club questions 1. Did anything you read change your previous opinions. Find examples of episodes which indicate that deborah and other family members are beginning to trust skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot is the story of a poor black woman who was raised in the south.
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