Structure

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot is divided into three main sections: Part one – Life; Part Two – Death; and, Part Three – Immortality. Both Part One and Part Two have eleven chapters. Part Three has sixteen chapters. The first section covers Henrietta’s life, including her childhood through her battle with cancer and her last days. The second section covers her burial and the proliferation of her cancer cells that had been taken by scientists and cultured and their impact on medical research. The third section deals with the aftermath of Henrietta’s treatment and the continuing mistreatment of her family.

The section “A Few Words about this Book” is followed by a prologue. The page “Deborah’s Voice” is written by Henrietta’s daughter, who expresses her feelings about her mother and her mother’s cells.

Following the last chapter, there is a “Where...