"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is a nonfiction book written by Rebecca Skloot. It tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge or consent in 1951 and were used to create the first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa. The book explores the ethical issues surrounding the use of HeLa cells in medical research and the impact it has had on Lacks' family. It also examines the history of medical experimentation on African Americans and the impact it has had on trust and healthcare in the African American community. The book was a New York Times bestseller and received positive reviews from critics. It was also adapted into a HBO film in 2017.