Announcing the 2015-2016 One Book Survey Winner!

You voted and we have a winner! Now that the 2015-2016 One Book Survey has closed, we’re excited to announce the winner. The next One Book Project will feature The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Source: Amazon

“Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa.”[1] Henrietta died in 1951 at the age of 31, but 63 years later, her cells are still alive and growing more numerous by the day. These cells, known as HeLa cells, represent a multi-million dollar industry and have led to scientific breakthroughs involving vaccine production, gene mapping, cloning, and AIDS research. Despite this incredible contribution to medical science, Henrietta Lacks gained neither fame nor recognition after her death, and her family received no part of the profits from her cells.

The story of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks uncovers the identity of an African American woman from Virginia, a dedicated wife and loving mother, who approached each day with determination and dignity, even when she was undergoing treatments for the cancer that would take her life. As she was being treated at Johns Hopkins a tissue sample was removed without her knowledge, and from this sample scientists derived the HeLa cell line, which would go on to revolutionize medical research. Henrietta’s story explores the murky waters of medical ethics, the bonds of family and community, and the importance of amending past wrongs and remedying inequalities in our health care system and our society at large. 

Over 300 students, faculty, and staff cast their votes in the survey. Thanks to everyone who participated! We hope you will join us in reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks this fall. In the meantime, free copies of Breaking Night, the 2014-2015 One Book, are still available, so stop by the library and take one home today!

 [1] www.bookbrowse.com