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hshinn21's review against another edition
5.0
But you should know: this book might be difficult to read. It was for me at some points. It talks frankly, but not grotesquely, of many terrible things: and this is part of what makes it so important. I started listing content warnings below and the list looks a little bit overwhelming at first glance. So know your limits, and be prepared.
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
maya_reads_books's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Cancer and Racial slurs
Minor: Child abuse
anushar's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Medical content, and Death of parent
kennedybullen's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide
creationwing's review against another edition
4.25
There were moments when the book seemed a little too voyeuristic for my taste; I'm not sure that all the details included were necessary for me to learn about this historic figure, her family's struggles, and have understanding of the suffering and unjustice.
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Vomit, and Death of parent
Minor: Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt
There are detailed descriptions of the autopsies ofcharlotttemare's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse
academicanko's review against another edition
5.0
This books opens the conversation to consent and much more. What does research allow and does my autonomous rights cover cells? Now technology is advanced enough to understand DNA. Is it really okay to have my DNA abused in ways I have no control? Who should get compensation? Hasn't commercialization of pharmaceuticals hindered science more than helped it? America has always had a horrible situation when it comes to health care and insurance. It is one of the reasons I live abroad.
When doing more research on this book, I have noticed that many criticize the author for her way of approaching the family. I later learned that this book has challenged to be banned from some states. I have also found that the remaining family did not like the way the family was portrayed in the book. I like to believe that the author had gotten the consent of Deborah when planning this book and that the things she included were important to her as a descendent of Henrietta. I like to think and I really hope that the authors intentions were true. I think this story is very important and one that must be more widely known.
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Mental illness
larkiereads's review against another edition
5.0
This book reads like a mystery, and although it never had me quite on the edge of my seat, I kept wanting to return to it to find out what happened next. She alternates between science history (and simple explanations of the science itself) and biography, discussing not only Henrietta's life and the advancements made with HeLa cells, but also her own search for information. The book moves along fairly quickly, and even though Rebecca is an active participant, she never centers herself and her reporting over the Lacks family and their experiences. She doesn't hold back, good or bad (or very very bad), and clearly establishes that this book is a collaboration.
I could go into the minutiae of everything this book did well, but I'm sure there are more in depth reviews out there that would do a better job. I want to close this review by saying that everyone should read this book. We owe so much of our medical advancements in the last 60 years to Henrietta Lacks, and there is ongoing debate about informed consent in tissue research and gene copyrights that affect us all. On top of that, I feel like I understand more about medical research because I've read it. And it was (mostly) fun to read! The writing and craft in this book are absolute perfection. Please give it a try.
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, and Sexual assault
udari's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying and Suicide
jayisreading's review against another edition
3.75
I’ve been thinking about a quote from the book that really highlights the frustration one may feel about the Lacks family’s situation: “She’s the most important person in the world and her family living in poverty. If our mother so important to science, why can’t we get health insurance?“ I felt so much anger reading this book, not so much because of the topic, but because of the injustices that Henrietta Lacks, her family and, really, the Black community have faced. There’s a lot in this book to digest— Despite my concerns, I think there’s a lot of important information that makes this book worth reading in the end.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Minor: Incest