Mission to Teach, released in May 2013, is the memoir of a courageous young woman who took on American science education reform against deeply established practices. She suffered several tragedies along the way that only spurred her on to astonishing achievements in her all-too-short lifetime. The book is based on the life and work of New York University Professor Jhumki Basu, who developed groundbreaking teaching techniques that were rooted in her own experiences as a teacher in embattled inner-city schools.