Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks: The Mother of Modern Medicine introduces young readers to the remarkable story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancer cells revolutionised medical science.


This book charts Henrietta's life, from her upbringing in Virginia through to the births of her five children, before she passed away aged 31 from cervical cancer. Henrietta's cells lived on, taken from her tumour while she was undergoing surgery without her knowledge, leading to the discovery of the first 'immortal cell line', and giving Henrietta the name 'the mother of modern medicine'. It tracks the ongoing impact of the HeLa cells, as well as exploring the intersection between race and medicine.


Through its melding of science and history, Henrietta Lacks introduces the world of STEM to a new audience, and will delight and fascinate young readers.