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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

After the devastating drought of 2000–2001 in Malawi, William Kamkwamba’s family could no longer afford his school fees, but he continued to use the primary school library in his village. Interested in science, William found two books that inspired him to build his first windmill, which he used to power a small lightbulb at home. He went on to build a bigger windmill and wire his entire house, gaining attention that led to further educational opportunities. William scavenged everything, and not only had to understand the science but also think creatively. In this adaptation for young adults of William’s adult memoir, his voice is engaging and occasionally self-deprecating as he describes a confidence born of enthusiasm that kept him focused even when he faced ridicule, since early on no one understood what he was doing. It also kept him going through failure—an inevitable aspect of his experimentation. The context of William’s life—his community and family and the impact of the drought on his country—is as vivid as William’s optimism in this account that includes inset color photographs, including one of his recent graduation from Dartmouth. ©2015 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Illustrated by Anna Hymas

CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 12 and older
Age Range: Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13) Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format: Substantial Narrative Non-Fiction
Subjects: Economic Hardship and Poverty Education Inventing and Inventors Malawians and Malawian Americans Perseverance
Diversity subject: Black/African

Publisher: Dial
Publish Year: 2015
Pages: 293
ISBN: 9780803740808

CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 920 Kamkwamba

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind