If you haven’t been able to join one of our book groups Monday through Friday, then please consider joining us on Saturday, December 9th, 2017 from 2pm – 4pm at The Java Room (14 Littleton Road, Chelmsford, Ma.) and our new Moveable Feast Book Group.   We will be discussing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  This bestseller published in 2010 took science journalist Skloot ten years to research and to write.  Over the years, she interviewed family members multiple times, including Henrietta’s youngest daughter, Deborah, who was instrumental in sharing  her life experiences, and telling the story of her mother.

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman (1920-1951) who died from cervical cancer.  While being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital her cells were harvested, grown, and shared around the country and around the world for research.  The shorthand for Henrietta’s cells became known as HeLa.  During the time of Henrietta’s illness and subsequent death, she and her family were unaware that her “immortal cells” were being used for scientific research, and have never received monetary compensation from Johns Hopkins. We have all benefited from HeLa cells which have been used for decades in combating polio, different forms of cancer, and AIDS. In April 2017 Oprah Winfrey starred in the HBO movie adaptation of the book.

For additional information on the nonprofit foundation established by Rebecca Skloot in 2010:  The Henrietta Lacks Foundation

Reserve your book today, and join us for the discussion!