Staff Picks: Books  Staff-recommended reading from the KPL
catalog.  The HeLa Cells  Wow, has this story been in the news
lately?!? Maybe you’ve heard about it? It’s about Henrietta
Lacks. She was stricken with an aggressive cancer more than 60
years ago. In 1951 she was treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital. It
was later found out that the doctor took and preserved cells
from her tumor without her knowledge. Although that was a common
practice at that time, it continues to haunt the family because
the scientific industry has continued to use the information
gained from Henrietta, herself, and also other family members.
They have made this information very accessible and until
recently continued to do so. Her cells have been used around the
world and they continue to contribute to some major medical
advances and financial gains. These cells were named the HeLa
cells and are called that till this day.  The book The Immortal
Life of Henrietta Lacksby Rebecca Skloot tells her and her
families’ story. It was publishe