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dar101's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, and Medical trauma
mrslsmith's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Racism
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: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Racism, Medical content, Cancer, Violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Medical trauma
maya_reads_books's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs and Cancer
Minor: Child abuse
anushar's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Death of parent, Incest, Medical content, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, Death, Child abuse, and Child death
kennedybullen's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Racial slurs, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, and Child abuse
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Incest, 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: Medical content, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Child death, Violence, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Body horror, Cancer, Medical trauma, Racism, and Confinement
Moderate: Vomit, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Self harm, Pedophilia, Rape, Death of parent, Slavery, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Incest, Drug abuse, and Deadnaming
There are detailed descriptions of the autopsies ofcharlotttemare's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Racism, Abandonment, Medical trauma, and Medical content
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: Rape, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Incest, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, and Racial slurs
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, Sexual assault, and Incest