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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and modern science was mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger, and a place where hope and opportunity were hard to find. But William had read about windmills in a book called Using Energy, and he dreamed of building one that would bring electricity and water to his village and change his life and the lives of those around him. His neighbors may have mocked him and called him misalacrazybut William was determined to show them what a little grit and ingenuity could do.Enchanted by the workings of electricity as a boy, William had a goal to study science in Malawi's top boarding schools. But in 2002, his country was stricken with a famine that left his family's farm devastated and his parents destitute. Unable to pay the eighty-dollar-a-year tuition for his education, William was forced to drop out and help his family forage for food as thousands across the country starved and died.Yet William refused to let go of his dreams. With nothing more than a fistful of cornmeal in his stomach, a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks, and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to bring his family a set of luxuries that only two percent of Malawians could afford and what the West considers a necessityelectricity and running water. Using scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves, William forged a crude yet operable windmill, an unlikely contraption and small miracle that eventually powered four lights, complete with homemade switches and a circuit breaker made from nails and wire. A second machine turned a water pump that could battle the drought and famine that loomed with every season.Soon, news of William's magetsi a mphepohis "electric wind"spread beyond the borders of his home, and the boy who was once called crazy became an inspiration to those around the world.Here is the remarkable story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind will inspire anyone who doubts the power of one individual's ability to change his community and better the lives of those around him.
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quote
mfarragher
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

"When you have a dream, you‘ve got to grab it and never let go."

blurb
mfarragher
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

Use this book to discuss renewable energy, inventiveness, and the importance of education. Students can brainstorm their own inventions or research alternative energy sources.

review
mfarragher
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Pickpick

This true story tells of William Kamkwamba, a young boy in Malawi who builds a windmill to bring electricity to his village. His ingenuity and determination are a powerful example of solving problems with creativity and resourcefulness.

quote
chloecosmo
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

“I went to sleep dreaming of Malawi, and all the things made possible when your dreams are powered by your heart.“

blurb
chloecosmo
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

This book can be used to discuss perseverance and innovation. You might encourage students to think about simple solutions to big problems they see in the world around them.

review
chloecosmo
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Pickpick

William Kamkwamba, a boy in Malawi, built a windmill to provide electricity to his village after learning about wind energy in a library book.

quote
mh930121
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

“Don't worry about the things you can‘t do. Focus on what you can do, no matter how small it is, and try to do it as best as you can.”

blurb
mh930121
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

This story demonstrates the power of knowledge, innovation, and perseverance, encouraging young readers to dream big and use what they learn to make a difference, even in difficult circumstances.

review
mh930121
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Pickpick

Growing up in a small village in Malawi, William Kamkwamba faced many hardships, including a devastating drought that left his family and community struggling to survive. When he discovered a science book on wind energy, William was inspired to build a windmill that could generate electricity and pump water. Using scrap materials and his own resourcefulness, William built the windmill and changed the future for his family and village.

blurb
JackHowley5
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

This story is inspiring and uses good language to show children that anything is possible if you try

quote
JackHowley5
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

“When the wind blows, it can bring a new day, a new life. It can bring a brighter future.”

review
JackHowley5
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Pickpick

This biography tells the story of William Kamkwamba, a young boy from Malawi who used scrap materials and his own ingenuity to build a windmill that brought electricity to his village. It‘s a powerful story of perseverance, innovation, and hope.

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ed669621
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

“When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go.”

blurb
ed669621
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

This book can link to my teaching by inspiring students to think critically about problem-solving and innovation, showing them that even the most challenging situations can lead to creative solutions.

review
ed669621
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Pickpick

This book was published in 2009. This inspiring story recounts how a young boy from Malawi, faced with poverty and hunger, builds a windmill from scrap materials to generate electricity for his village. It received the 2010 Christian Science Monitor Award and encourages readers to pursue their dreams and harness their creativity.

blurb
Mayadenoma
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Mayadenoma
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

“I try, and I made it.“

review
Mayadenoma
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Mehso-so

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer is an inspiring true story of a young boy's ingenuity in bringing electricity to his village in Malawi. With themes of resilience and innovation, it encourages students to think creatively about problem-solving. This book is suitable for discussions on renewable energy, African cultures, and the power of determination.

review
marleed
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

I watched this movie last week then pulled this book from my shelves. As much as I like the movie (I mean Chiwetel Ejiofor!) the book is better. The two hour movie couldn‘t capture the devastation of the famine or the authors own thoughts and words better than the book. The Malawi folklore is more vivid on the page, and his relationships with his father, with Gilbert and Geoffrey have more impact in the book.

JoyBlue I 💙 Chiwetel Ejiofor! 2y
marleed @JoyBlue Me too! 2y
theliteraryagenda I‘ve been interested to watch the movie, but the book sounds great too! 2y
77 likes3 stack adds3 comments
quote
Mboyd28
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

I try, and I made it!

blurb
Mboyd28
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

This book is not only inspiring, but can also be used as an introduction to STEM and can spark ideas for projects to do in the classroom.

review
Mboyd28
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Pickpick

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a true story about co-author of the book William Kamkwamba. The story is about a time when Kamkwamba's village was struggling due to a drought. Kamkwamba discovered how to create a windmill and used scraps to build a functioning windmill that provided electricity.

blurb
Jake_
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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What a great book about a boy helping his community by applying the things that he learned in school to build a windmill. I would definitely check this one out!

SW-T It was a good read. 3y
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galueth28
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

Loved Williams optimism, despite his many setbacks. And super interesting all the info about life in Malawi.

#ReadingAfrica2022

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Cinfhen
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

A truly #FeelGoodRead that‘s full of inspiration and admiration for young William Kamkwamba. A boy with a vision to help his family & community. The descriptions of #Malawi were so evocative and I enjoyed learning about his extended family as well. I listened to the audio, which was a little difficult to follow at times but I enjoyed the melodic authentic tone of the reader. Will definitely watch the short film. #ReadingAfrica22

Cinfhen Ooops, totally forgot @TheAromaofBooks this is my March #BookSpin 3y
Megabooks I need to get to this. I keep getting sidetracked. Listening to this now, which I had been waiting for at the library. 3y
Librarybelle So much love for this one on Litsy! 3y
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Cinfhen Ohhhh, that book sounds phenomenal @Megabooks 🎊🎊🎊 3y
Cinfhen It‘s just a really nice story of perseverance and determination @Librarybelle ❤️ 3y
BarbaraBB A feel good book, that‘s the right word! So was my most recent read for #ReadingAfrica2022, which is short and I can recommend 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
85 likes7 comments
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Daisey
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

I‘ve had the young reader‘s edition of this book in my library for a while, but I hadn‘t read it yet. This past week I listened to the original audio and then flipped through the illustrations and photos in my print copy this morning. It is an inspiring story of family and hard work that also gives a real sense of place.

#ReadingAfrica2022 #Malawi #ReadTheWorld #ReadingTheWorld #MsDsLibrary #Nonfiction

BarbaraBB I read the same edition. It didn‘t feel that young reader-ish! (edited) 3y
Daisey From looking through it, I would say that it‘s much shorter and probably doesn‘t include quite as much wide ranging or technical description. The unabridged also had a section on the impact of HIV and preventative education that I don‘t think is in the YR edition. 3y
Librarybelle Excellent - and so cool to listen to the audio and look through the images in a print edition! 3y
54 likes3 comments
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Hooked_on_books
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

A big thanks to @Texreader for putting this terrific memoir on my radar! William‘s family in #Malawi is poor but managing until the 2001 famine arrives, devastating his community and country. He ends up being unable to attend school and educates himself instead in the library, achieving marvelous things. This was so, so good.

#ReadingAfrica2022

Texreader I‘m thrilled you liked it! It‘s one darned inspirational book! 3y
BarbaraBB Glad you enjoyed it. It is an inspiring book I think 3y
Librarybelle So much love for this one!! 3y
33 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Andrew65
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

What a great book, and gives a real flavour of life in Malawi and how tough it is. Next country completed for #ReadingAfrica2022 with #Malawi.

Librarybelle Yay! 3y
Crazeedi Can't wait to read 3y
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blurb
Andrew65
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Started listening to this one on my commute today, which I am reading as part of #ReadingAfrica2022 for #Malawi

Early stages of the book but giving a real flavour of life in Malawi.

Librarybelle Hope you enjoy! 3y
75 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BarbaraBB
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

This is the impressive and admirable story of a boy in #Malawi who, despite famine, hunger and a lack of education manages to invent windmills and electricity for his village. When he has been “discovered” by the world and becomes a protégé of international sponsors it is touching to see how he learns about the internet and elevators and all those things he grew up without.

#ReadingAfrica2022 ?? #19822022 #2009 #Booked2022 #WeatherTermInTitle

Suet624 I remember reading a children‘s book to my grandson about him. 3y
BennettBookworm I was fortunate enough to hear Kamkwamba speak in person! I love this book and the children‘s book, as well! 3y
squirrelbrain Sounds great - stacked. You are doing *so* well with #readingafrica2022! 3y
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BarbaraBB @BennettBookworm That is awesome, he seems such a kind boy. I read a young readers edition (accidentally) but I don‘t think this is a children‘s book. The parts about physics were still hard for me 😊 3y
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain The first months are always the easiest- as you know 😉😘 3y
Librarybelle That photo! ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
Cinfhen Stunning photo and great use of challenge prompts!! I have this one for #Malawi too (edited) 3y
bibliothecarivs Was pleased to meet Kamkwambe a few years ago when he spoke at our local university. 3y
BarbaraBB @bibliothecarivs I can imagine, he seems like a real kind and intelligent man. 3y
89 likes3 stack adds9 comments
review
Texreader
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Pickpick

A kid in #Malawi, frustrated with famine and ignorance in his village, and unable to afford the fees to go to school, visits the library instead. He learns to build a windmill that powers electricity to his house for the first time using finds from the scrapyard, hard work, & ingenuity. He overcame a country‘s superstition to become a highly successful African entrepreneur aiming to improve his world. I love this book! This kid is my hero! ⬇️

Texreader I love #litsy challenges. I get to read books I‘d never read otherwise. These books give us so much hope! Thanks @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB for hosting #readingafrica2022! This was an amazing story! @BarbaraBB I think your version must be for youth or young adults. (edited) 3y
Librarybelle Hooray!! And thank you for participating!! 😁❤️ 3y
BarbaraBB Yes that is right! I had no idea when I bought it online! But I am listening on to the original on audio. It IS good! 3y
Texreader @BarbaraBB Oh good I‘m glad you like it. What a great person he is and an example he set. 3y
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blurb
Texreader
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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This is the windmill the author built to add electricity to his house. He had to drop out of school due to lack of funds to pay school fees, so he read all he could in his local library and built this. Now he‘s come to the attention of #Malawi media, who‘ve traveled hours to his village to interview him. I‘m loving these stories about African heroes‘ tenacity changing their world! #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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Texreader
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Can you guess the year this superstition made the rounds in #Malawi? Believe it or not this was 2002! #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Hooked_on_books Sadly, based on what I see going on in the US, I‘m not all that surprised. 3y
Texreader @Hooked_on_books Yea I tend to agree 3y
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Texreader
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Texreader
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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ShelleyBooksie So interesting 3y
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Texreader
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
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Not a Malawian delicacy I want to try. But I do like the saying!

#readingafrica2022 #Malawi @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB