August Book Club Selection: HeLa-va Great Summer Read

     HeLa is the name used in the scientific community for the famous cells of Henrietta Lacks. These cells are considered by many prominent specialists in the field to be a miracle of science, because they were the first, ever, human cells to not only be able to live and survive in a culture dish, but to continue to thrive and multiply. And never die!
     These immortal cells were named after the donor's first two letters of the first and last name. It is noteworthy to mention that Henrietta Lacks was a black woman diagnosed with cervical cancer when her cells were taken  and that it was during our nation's pre-civil rights era. Obscured by the media and our nation's history with race discrimination, this is an amazing story that has only recently been brought to the country's consciousness with this best selling work of non-fiction.
     The author, Rebecca Skloot has devoted her life to learning everything about the woman who donated her immortal cells to science. She brings to light a haunting controversy - Did Henrietta Lacks actually donate her cells to science for research and advancement in cancer and medicine? Or were her cells taken without her knowledge or consent? It opens up a whole new can of worms about morals and ethics in the field of medicine and science. More importanly, she brings acknowledgement to Henrietta Lacks. It is an intriguing read and I am fascinated by the woman that lived then and forever.

What's on your summer reading list?


xo, Ciao Bella