5. Mood of the Book

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is both a sad, but serious book. The mood occasionally changed as chapters explained different events that occurred. "Doctors took her cells without asking." (Skloot) After Henrietta became sick, doctors took her cells without permission. The family was unaware of everything that occurred when they should have been the first to know what was going on. "...her cells helped make blood pressure medicines and antidepression pills and how all this important stuff in science happened because of her." (Skloot) Her cells helped create medicines that save people today and help people stay healthy. "...had stolen their mother's cells and made millions selling them." (Skloot) The family never had much and when they learned about people selling the cells, they became upset. They didn't have much money, while scientists were making a lot of money with the use of the cells.