The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind book cover
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

By William Kamkwamba

Illustrator: Anna Hymas

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.

Educator Resources

  • A Discussion Guide to A Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

    Download

State Awards

Recommended reading lists from your state's teacher or librarian associations!
  • Georgia
    • Georgia Children's Book Award, 2014-2015
  • Texas
    • Lectio Book Awards (Austin, TX), 2016-2017
    • Spirit of Texas, 2016-2017
  • North Carolina
    • North Carolina Young Adult Book Award Middle School, 2016-2017
  • South Carolina
    • South Carolina Book Awards, 2013-2014
  • Tennessee
    • Volunteer State Book Award, 2017-2018

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