The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader's Edition
Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.
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Community Reviews
*The boy who harnessed the wind*
Chandrasekhar sir presented this book last week, about William Kamkwamba’s story. This took us to his small village in Malawi, where poverty and famine challenged even the most basic survival needs. Despite these hardships, William’s relentless curiosity and determination led him to build a windmill using discarded materials. As news of his windmill spread, William gained recognition both locally and internationally. He went on to complete his education in the US and became an advocate for innovation in Africa.
What stood out were the little details that provide so much colour to the author’s journey.
- A famine results in widespread distress & poverty in his area. William’s dog dies, and he is forced to drop out of school
- He is inspired by a book in a new library that introduces wind energy and windmills. He doesn’t understand English, but the librarian helps translate the books to him
- His friend is a support of constant support throughout his journey
- His family is unwilling to let their cycle’s spare parts be used for his windmill because it is one of the few things in the household that can still be used for a distress sale
- With his first windmill, he powers a single light bulb in his home
- There is a world of difference between his first, nervous TED talk (2007) and his second, confident one after 10 years
It was a humbling reminder that so many around the world struggle for things we routinely take for granted. We also discussed how much the right environment plays a huge role in people's lives, and the kind of extraordinary motivation, persistence & ability it takes to break out from an environment like the one described in the book. It was a great discussion of an inspiring story.
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