Independent Reading #1

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
By Rebecca Skloot

Biography: Rebecca Skloot is the daughter of Floyd Skloot, who is famous for writing poems, novels, and essays.  She has a BS in biological sciences and MFA in creative writing.  Skloot is an award winning science writer who has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Oprah Magazine, Discover, and many other publications.

Summary: The first section of this book is about Henrietta's background living in Maryland in the early 1900's.  When she was about 30, she went to the John Hopkins Hospital, where doctors discovered that she had an very aggressive form of cervical cancer.   Without her knowing, they harvested a sample of the cells to study.  As she struggled to fight the cancer spreading throughout her body, her cells collected by doctors were multiplying so that research could be done.  Many of those who researched her cells believed that the cure for cancer could finally be reached.  Skloot then talked about Henrietta's family, who for a long time were unaware that her cell's were being used for research around the world.  They had been taken advantage of by doctors for cooperation who knew they were unaware of what was going on.  

Context/Exigence: This book's context is the overall facts about HeLa cells.  Skloot takes neither side, but explains both advances in cell research because of Henrietta's cancer cells and the controversy of how doctors did not have her consent to take the cells.  The exigence of this story is that most people are unaware of where HeLa cells which save lives today came from, and how they really were not legally allowed to possessed by doctors.  

Purpose: Skloot's purpose is not to argue either the doctor's or Henrietta's side, but to state the facts of what happened and how HeLa cells were obtained.  

Audience: This book was written for advanced readers who have some understanding of medical terms and law.

Rhetorical Elements:  This first section mostly appeals to logos, because it is only the first part of the book presenting the background and facts.  It does get a little emotional, because it makes the reader respond to the facts by picking either side.  However, Skloot focuses on what happened and who was affected by Henrietta Lacks for this first section.

I think that Skloot accomplished her purpose to educate readers on the HeLa cells because prior to the book I had no idea what they were, and I now feel like I have a much better understanding of them and could explain what the book described to someone else who had no background knowledge.