The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

This is the aforementioned review of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  This is probably one of the best non fiction books I've ever read, both for subject matter and readability.  It was very popular when it first came out, and I heard great things about it from those who read it.  It wasn't until it was recently returned to the library that I thought I'd give it a try.

Through massive research, investigation and reporting, it tells the story of the woman, Henrietta Lacks, whose cells spawned countless cell lines that still live today over half a century since her death.  Her cells led to the development of countless research and scientific breakthroughs: from vaccines to genome mapping and everything in between.

Skloot relates the story of Henrietta by framing it within the larger tale of her decade long journey to unearth the facts of the case and find answers for Henrietta's family and descendants.  It is a story that takes many, sometimes bizarre, turns.

The end result is a page turner that reads like a thriller throughout and, in some chapters recounting early experimentation on human subjects, like a horror story.  If you're a fan of science, of history or of a good story, I highly recommend you check this out.

--Reviewed by Ms. Angie