The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Though The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks can be viewed as a story of racism and the legacies of poverty and abuse it engenders in medical institutions and beyond, it is also a story of great triumph and resilience. In what ways is the book intended as a celebration of human triumph and resilience?

• Consider the title. What connotations does it carry?
• Consider religious and supernatural motifs. How do they play out, and what impact do they have in terms of revealing theme, message, and purpose?
• What factors, both miraculous and unscrupulous, led to Lacks’s immortality?
• How does Skloot celebrate both HeLa and Lacks’s children?
• To what extent does getting to know Deborah and Henrietta’s other children honor Henrietta’s sacrifices?  
• Which storylines showcase resilience in the face of terrible odds, and how do these storylines contribute to the story of HeLa?
• In what ways does the book attempt to correct an injustice?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may benefit from written copies of the questions to refer to during discussion. Students may also benefit from previewing questions ahead of time to prepare in-depth answers and refer more directly to the text. Group or personal notetaking may increase information retention.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students with social anxiety or who do not communicate through speech may benefit from submitting written responses in place of verbal participation in a class discussion.