2. The book also relates a lot of information about the treatment of blacks by the medical profession such as the quality of care they received and their use in research studies. Which stories did you find most interesting or alarming? What kind of consequences, both social and scientific, did these incidents have?
3. Rebecca Skloot went beyond writing a book about the HeLa cell line. She alternates between the story of the cells and the process of researching for this story. Why did she choose to provide a first person account of her interactions with the Lacks family and with scientists as she worked to write this book? Do you think this was an effective technique?
4. Trace the changing relationship between Skloot and Deborah. Why was it so difficult for Skloot to earn Deborah’s trust? In what ways did their friendship change them and their attitudes toward Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells?
5. Luckily, this book has a Reading Group Guide. Feel free to add your response to any of the questions in the book.
