Breakthrough: How One Teen Innovator Is Changing the World

Featured in the 2018 movie Science Fair!

A National Science Teachers Association Best STEM Book of 2017

In this acclaimed memoir, teen innovator and scientist Jack Andraka tells the story behind his revolutionary discovery.

When a dear family friend passed away from pancreatic cancer, Jack was inspired to create a better method of early detection. At the age of fifteen, he garnered international attention for his breakthrough: a four-cent strip of paper capable of detecting pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers four hundred times more effectively than the previous standard.

Jack’s story is not just a story of dizzying international success; it’s a story of overcoming depression and homophobic bullying and finding the resilience to persevere and come out.

His account inspires young people, who he argues are the most innovative, to fight for the right to be taken seriously and to pursue our own dreams. Do-it-yourself science experiments are included in each chapter, making Breakthrough perfect for STEM curriculum.

But above all, Jack’s memoir empowers his generation with the knowledge that we can each change the world if we only have the courage to try.

This is a story of scientific discovery, personal resilience, and the power of a single idea—told by the teen who lived it.

• Inspirational STEM Story: Follow Jack Andraka’s journey from a kid experimenting in his basement to an internationally recognized scientist—all before he could legally drive.
• Overcoming Adversity: A raw and honest account of battling depression and homophobic bullying, offering a powerful message of hope and perseverance for any teen feeling like an outsider.
• Science Fair Champion: Get an inside look at the high-stakes world of competitive science fairs and the drive it took to develop a revolutionary new test for pancreatic cancer.
• Hands-On Science: Includes do-it-yourself experiments in each chapter, empowering young readers to become innovators in their own right.