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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
The New York Times bestselling memoir of the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village is now perfect for young readers
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.
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.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2009
1498 people are currently reading
8917 people want to read
About the author
William Kamkwamba
7 books384 followersWilliam Kamkwamba was born August 5, 1987 in Malawi, and grew up on his family farm in Wimbe, two and half hours northeast of Malawi’s capital city. William was educated at Wimbe Primary School, completing 8th grade and was then accepted to secondary school. Due to severe famine in 2001-2002, his family lacked funds to pay $80 in school fees and William was forced to drop out in his freshman year. For five years he was unable to go to school. Rather than accept his fate, William borrowed books from a small community lending library, including an American textbook Using Energy, which depicted a wind turbine. He decided to build a windmill to power his family’s home. First he built a prototype, then his initial 5-meter windmill out of a broken bicycle, tractor fan blade, old shock absorber, and blue gum trees. He was able to power four light bulbs and two radios, and charge neighbors’ mobile phones. He then added a car battery for storage, as well as homemade light switches and circuit breakers. Subsequent projects have included clean water, malaria prevention, solar power and lighting for his family compound, a deep water well with a solar powered pump, a drip irrigation system, and the outfitting of the village team Wimbe United with uniforms and shoes. In September, 2008, William started as one of 97 inaugural students at the African Leadership Academy, a new pan-African prep school based outside of Johannesburg, South Africa whose mission is to educate the next generation with rigorous academics, ethical leadership training, entrepreneurship and design (africanleadershipacademy.org). William is the subject of the short film Moving Windmills: http://missingpiecesvideo.com/kamkwam.... William is currently finishing his autobiography The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope with co-author Bryan Mealer. Harper Collins will publish the memoir Sept. 29, 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,620 reviews
July 17, 2024
Rating: 4.5* of five
***2017 UPDATE***Not only is this a perfect read for the political climate prevailing today, it's got a film adaptation written and produced by, and starring, the excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor! Whaddaya mean, WHO?! The Operative from Serenity! Mordo from Doctor Strange! Lola in Kinky Boots! That's who!
The Publisher Says: When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.
Lyrically told and gloriously illustrated, this story will inspire many as it shows how - even in the worst of times - a great idea and a lot of hard work can still rock the world.
My Review: Four stars for the delightful story of a young man who does NOT allow cuts in education funding caused by economic crisis to interfere with his learning, for the clear benefit clearly ascribed to the public library donated by the US Government, for the tale of a vision pursued and a piece of the world changed because of it, and for a man telling his story so that no one can feel it can't be done.
The half star is all down to the lovely mixed-media illos by Elizabeth Zunon. The young man's face and his family's presence in soft pastels contrasted with the three-dimensionality of the maize, the sun, etc...how nice a counterpoint it made.
My old friend Joe praised this book, so I'm happy to credit him with the shove to read it. My mood improved markedly after reading the book and absorbing its implication that a person can indeed change his world by simply refusing to allow negativity to stall him. Mr. Kamkwamba, thank you for making an old man's day brighter.
***2017 UPDATE***Not only is this a perfect read for the political climate prevailing today, it's got a film adaptation written and produced by, and starring, the excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor! Whaddaya mean, WHO?! The Operative from Serenity! Mordo from Doctor Strange! Lola in Kinky Boots! That's who!
The Publisher Says: When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.
Lyrically told and gloriously illustrated, this story will inspire many as it shows how - even in the worst of times - a great idea and a lot of hard work can still rock the world.
My Review: Four stars for the delightful story of a young man who does NOT allow cuts in education funding caused by economic crisis to interfere with his learning, for the clear benefit clearly ascribed to the public library donated by the US Government, for the tale of a vision pursued and a piece of the world changed because of it, and for a man telling his story so that no one can feel it can't be done.
The half star is all down to the lovely mixed-media illos by Elizabeth Zunon. The young man's face and his family's presence in soft pastels contrasted with the three-dimensionality of the maize, the sun, etc...how nice a counterpoint it made.
My old friend Joe praised this book, so I'm happy to credit him with the shove to read it. My mood improved markedly after reading the book and absorbing its implication that a person can indeed change his world by simply refusing to allow negativity to stall him. Mr. Kamkwamba, thank you for making an old man's day brighter.
October 11, 2015
This book is so touching.
Despite the odds being stacked so high up against William, with a famine and a school drop-out, the tale of this one boy who refused to give up on his dreams of bringing light and water into the lives of his fellow villagers in Malawi will inspire me everyday, and help me realize,
"Sometimes, all you have to do is try."
- William Kamkwamba
Despite the odds being stacked so high up against William, with a famine and a school drop-out, the tale of this one boy who refused to give up on his dreams of bringing light and water into the lives of his fellow villagers in Malawi will inspire me everyday, and help me realize,
"Sometimes, all you have to do is try."
- William Kamkwamba
October 18, 2018
This edition is the one that was especially written for young readers. What I loved about this simpler edition was the special message Kamkwamba had for younsters in his epilogue as well as the additional details about his life and his projects since he wrote his first book in 2009. The simpler scientific explanations were also more appealing to me. It is also clear that William realizes his dependence on his heavenly Father and more than once speaks of his gratitude for the blessings he and his family now enjoy. A wonderful book for both boys and girls.
March 7, 2019
I read this for a STEM class. It's a fantastic little book that I think kids should read because it will really open their eyes to what life is like in impoverished areas of the world. It also shows the importance of learning, books, and resilence.
March 21, 2021
Lectura del club 12 para el mes de marzo.
Biografía novelada con unas partes muy duras de hambrunas, lamentablemente real aún a día de hoy en muchas zonas de África.
Los últimos capítulos se me hicieron un poco repetitivos rozando el aburrimiento, le faltó emoción hacia el final y de ahí que no le de las 5 estrellas. Pero es una lectura muy recomendable y que aporta el plus de la importancia de poder acceder al conocimiento aunque sea solamente a través de un libro.
Biografía novelada con unas partes muy duras de hambrunas, lamentablemente real aún a día de hoy en muchas zonas de África.
Los últimos capítulos se me hicieron un poco repetitivos rozando el aburrimiento, le faltó emoción hacia el final y de ahí que no le de las 5 estrellas. Pero es una lectura muy recomendable y que aporta el plus de la importancia de poder acceder al conocimiento aunque sea solamente a través de un libro.
May 28, 2020
Beautiful picture book! I highly recommend.
"When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind."
"When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind."
March 6, 2021
A este libro le ha faltado una cosa para ser redondo y son ilustraciones, sobre todo en la parte más “mecánica” del libro para que torpes como yo lo siguiéramos mejor.
Muchas veces, cuando leo un clásico pienso en lo que ha cambiado la vida en unos cuantos años. Pero cuando lees un libro como este cuesta entender cómo podemos estar en realidades tan distintas y seguir con tanta desigualdad.
Lectura Club12 Marzo 2021
Muchas veces, cuando leo un clásico pienso en lo que ha cambiado la vida en unos cuantos años. Pero cuando lees un libro como este cuesta entender cómo podemos estar en realidades tan distintas y seguir con tanta desigualdad.
Lectura Club12 Marzo 2021
August 7, 2015
It's a true story. An utterly inspirational story of a young boy who brought electricity to his village in Malawi at age 14 and there is so much to inspire him - curiosity, ingenuity, the importance of reading and education, appreciation for the bounty we have been blessed with, what it's like to experience a famine, etc. He'll also learn about science, about the culture in Africa and how hard some people have to work to eke out a living. There is no graphic sex or violence. I highly recommend it.
The amazing part of the story is that in spite of the things that we believe to be backward, William was able to accomplish something remarkable. His determination to better the life of his family was so strong that he was willing to endure the ridicule of all the people around. He believed what he read in library books that he essentially had to translate first, and followed the dream.
Our lives are so easy in comparison, it is hard to believe such a world like this exists. This story gives me hope and reminds me that there are endless possibilities for those who believe especially for those who put their heart into it for the benefit of all.
Would I recommend it?
Definitely for teenage kids. Its a quick read and an appropriate book for teenage kids as there is no graphic violence or sex.
The amazing part of the story is that in spite of the things that we believe to be backward, William was able to accomplish something remarkable. His determination to better the life of his family was so strong that he was willing to endure the ridicule of all the people around. He believed what he read in library books that he essentially had to translate first, and followed the dream.
Our lives are so easy in comparison, it is hard to believe such a world like this exists. This story gives me hope and reminds me that there are endless possibilities for those who believe especially for those who put their heart into it for the benefit of all.
Would I recommend it?
Definitely for teenage kids. Its a quick read and an appropriate book for teenage kids as there is no graphic violence or sex.
March 22, 2021
Mi elección para el club durante el mes de marzo me parecía un libro simple pero fue a un poco más. Es un libro con el cual termina siendo imposible no empatizar viendo las condiciones actuales de vida en muchos países africanos, en este caso puntual en Wimbe, Malaui.
Es una historia biográfica sobre una niño que es expulsado de su escuela por no pagar la cuota y decide aprender por sus propios medios sobre algunos temas que le interesan leyendo en una biblioteca local (bastante escasa). Con su curiosidad innata y mucho esfuerzo logra construir un molino de viento que le permite el acceso a electricidad al menos de manera limitada y a ser conocido (y ayudado) fuera de su pueblo y país.
No llego a las 5 estrellas porque hubo partes muy técnicas que me sacaron un poco de la historia, aunque entiendo la importancia que tuvieron para el autor. El libro llega directo al corazón y a mi me generó dos sentimientos:
1. Buscar la forma de ayudar a comunidades tan desprotegidas y atrasadas.
2. Agradecer por las oportunidades que tuve siempre y que en muchas ocasiones damos por sentado.
Es una historia biográfica sobre una niño que es expulsado de su escuela por no pagar la cuota y decide aprender por sus propios medios sobre algunos temas que le interesan leyendo en una biblioteca local (bastante escasa). Con su curiosidad innata y mucho esfuerzo logra construir un molino de viento que le permite el acceso a electricidad al menos de manera limitada y a ser conocido (y ayudado) fuera de su pueblo y país.
No llego a las 5 estrellas porque hubo partes muy técnicas que me sacaron un poco de la historia, aunque entiendo la importancia que tuvieron para el autor. El libro llega directo al corazón y a mi me generó dos sentimientos:
1. Buscar la forma de ayudar a comunidades tan desprotegidas y atrasadas.
2. Agradecer por las oportunidades que tuve siempre y que en muchas ocasiones damos por sentado.
February 21, 2017
Inspirational, uplifting and just a quick fulfilling read...go for it! This is a true story about a young African boy who was fascinated with science. His life was a challenging one. He hungered to attend school and his curiosity was never satiated. Time after time he met with discouragement and heartache. There was no money to send him to school. There was a devastating famine. There was death and discouragement and always a lack of funds. Nevertheless, he persevered and his story is a memorable one. This is a story that not only holds the reader because of the vision and determination of the author, but also because of all of the kindness. friendships and generosity that he created in his life. Unknowingly, when I signed up for this book at the library for a book group, I didn't realize I was getting the young readers edition. So be it. I enjoyed the sincerity and the "voice" of a young, naive boy who found answers to his questions and curiosities in books and was self-taught. This was brain candy and I savored every bite. I wish I knew how to link reviews. If you want a really good one on this book check out http://www.Cootsreviews.com Will Byrnes. His review is outstanding (adult version).
March 2, 2021
Libro perteneciente a Marzo en el club12 de lectura. Y de no ser por dicho club jamás me habría acercado a este libro, con lo que me estaría perdiendo una gran obra.
Aunque se trata de una biografía ( auto ) esta se lee rápido y es muy entretenida, te deja ver aspectos de la vida de un niño africano que ni te plantearías. Si no le doy las cinco estrellas es por pecar un pelin de técnico, hay ratos que parece un manual para electricistas, y si bien entiendo la finalidad es algo que no me aportaba nada.
De todos modos un gran libro y que pondría como lectura ( no obligatoria, jamas la lectura debería ser obligatoria ) en los coles de toda Europa
Aunque se trata de una biografía ( auto ) esta se lee rápido y es muy entretenida, te deja ver aspectos de la vida de un niño africano que ni te plantearías. Si no le doy las cinco estrellas es por pecar un pelin de técnico, hay ratos que parece un manual para electricistas, y si bien entiendo la finalidad es algo que no me aportaba nada.
De todos modos un gran libro y que pondría como lectura ( no obligatoria, jamas la lectura debería ser obligatoria ) en los coles de toda Europa
February 3, 2016
This is such a powerful/inspiring/infuriating story, wow. I was on the verge of tears through most of it. The intense odds William Kamkwamba overcame--near starvation during a famine, being forced to drop out of school, having access to only an extremely minimal library of books that weren't even in his own language--to be able to build a working electrical windmill... and also a radio station... like, damn, son.
This is written in a pretty straightforward way, but careful to contextualize concepts that might be stumbling blocks for American/younger readers. I think it does a pretty good job also of contextualizing things like... even though in America you have pre-made toy cars and we make ours of out garbage, it doesn't mean we didn't have super fun childhoods also. IDK, it's a good tone. William is a good narrator of his own life--this book really captures a sense of curiosity and wonder that make all of his small discoveries along the way so exciting.
I think I might be giving this 5 stars because I want to give William Kamkwamba 5 stars as a human being? But it was a really great, inspiring read and I think he and his co-author Bryan Mealer did such a good job getting his story across... so, yeah, 5 stars.
I also think this would be so good for use in a classroom, maybe paired with a STEM activity... like have kids try to build their own windmills so they can see how impressive it is, LOL.
oh also, warning: THE DOG DIES AND IT'S HORRIBLE
This is written in a pretty straightforward way, but careful to contextualize concepts that might be stumbling blocks for American/younger readers. I think it does a pretty good job also of contextualizing things like... even though in America you have pre-made toy cars and we make ours of out garbage, it doesn't mean we didn't have super fun childhoods also. IDK, it's a good tone. William is a good narrator of his own life--this book really captures a sense of curiosity and wonder that make all of his small discoveries along the way so exciting.
I think I might be giving this 5 stars because I want to give William Kamkwamba 5 stars as a human being? But it was a really great, inspiring read and I think he and his co-author Bryan Mealer did such a good job getting his story across... so, yeah, 5 stars.
I also think this would be so good for use in a classroom, maybe paired with a STEM activity... like have kids try to build their own windmills so they can see how impressive it is, LOL.
oh also, warning: THE DOG DIES AND IT'S HORRIBLE
June 4, 2020
Lúc mới đọc cuốn này mình cứ nghĩ thôi chết rồi, mấy nay điên điên không có hứng đọc sách, còn đọc 1 em không phải gu thì lê lết kiểu gì đây?
Vậy mà càng đọc càng bị cuốn theo câu chuyện, dứt không được.
Giọng văn cuốn này dễ thương, đáng yêu lắm vì là lời kể của một cậu nhóc mười mấy tuổi ấy. Sách viết về việc biến ước mơ thành hiện thực, trong một hoàn cảnh ngặt nghèo mà mình không thể nghĩ là có thể xảy ra trong thời hiện đại này ý (à sách này là câu chuyện có thật của chính tác giả ấy)
Là một câu chuyện truyền cảm hứng nhưng có mấy đoạn mình cứ rơm rớm nước mắt. Có vẻ hơi lạ nhưng nhiều đoạn xúc động lắm, nhất là khi những ước mơ thành hiện thực và bao nỗ lực cố gắng được nhìn nhận xứng đáng.
Chương cuối là cả một bầu trời hy vọng.
Những bạn nào đang chán đời có thể tìm đọc cuốn này nha. Khi khép lại trang cuối mình như nhìn thấy hy vọng ngập tràn khắp nơi.
Vậy mà càng đọc càng bị cuốn theo câu chuyện, dứt không được.
Giọng văn cuốn này dễ thương, đáng yêu lắm vì là lời kể của một cậu nhóc mười mấy tuổi ấy. Sách viết về việc biến ước mơ thành hiện thực, trong một hoàn cảnh ngặt nghèo mà mình không thể nghĩ là có thể xảy ra trong thời hiện đại này ý (à sách này là câu chuyện có thật của chính tác giả ấy)
Là một câu chuyện truyền cảm hứng nhưng có mấy đoạn mình cứ rơm rớm nước mắt. Có vẻ hơi lạ nhưng nhiều đoạn xúc động lắm, nhất là khi những ước mơ thành hiện thực và bao nỗ lực cố gắng được nhìn nhận xứng đáng.
Chương cuối là cả một bầu trời hy vọng.
Những bạn nào đang chán đời có thể tìm đọc cuốn này nha. Khi khép lại trang cuối mình như nhìn thấy hy vọng ngập tràn khắp nơi.
April 6, 2017
Fantastic! I have been reading through a stack of books to share with my 7th graders as we wrap up the year. This book ranks high on that list as it so perfectly incorporates everything I have worked to instill in them this year: perseverence, finding truth through research, overcoming obstacles, speaking out and doing something about injustices around the world or in our own communities, not being defined by where you come from... This book has it all! Can't wait to share and chat with some young scholars!
May 2, 2021
Una autobiografía que cuenta la historia de un niño africano perteneciente a una familia pobre, que no tenía dinero para pagar las tasas de la escuela, pero sí tenía muchas ganas de aprender y prosperar. Después de leer un libro, con mucho esfuerzo y muchos contratiempos, fue capaz de construir un molino de viento con piezas encontradas en un vertedero, hecho que cambió su historia y la de su familia.
Este tipo de personas deben ser un ejemplo para todos y nos demuestra que si uno tiene ganas y empeño se pueden conseguir muchas cosas.
Este tipo de personas deben ser un ejemplo para todos y nos demuestra que si uno tiene ganas y empeño se pueden conseguir muchas cosas.
March 3, 2020
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the inspiring autobiography of William Kamkwamba, the boy from Malawi who built a windmill out of spare parts from a junkyard to bring electricity to his family's home. Growing up, William and his family faced famine and hardship when their maize crop failed. Because all of their extra funds had to go toward feeding the family, William was unable to attend school since he couldn't pay the school fees or afford the proper uniform. In spite of this struggle, William continued to learn by reading the books found in the small library in the village. Through this library, he discovered a book about principles of electricity and used those principles to design and build a windmill to power his home. His community thought he was crazy - a modern-day Noah - but when reporters and journalists from around Malawi started to take notice, even the TED organization invited William to tell his story. After attending college at African Bible College in Malawi and later Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, William is still working to change life for Africans.
Some of the concepts in this book (especially those about the inner workings of electricity and windmills) were challenging for me to understand, but this book could be so powerful and inspiring for students to see just how much one person can accomplish when he puts his mind to it. In the words of William Kamkwamba himself, "I try and I made it." How many of our students need to hear this message - that even in the most discouraging circumstances, with a little hard work, people can do big world-changing things.
Some of the concepts in this book (especially those about the inner workings of electricity and windmills) were challenging for me to understand, but this book could be so powerful and inspiring for students to see just how much one person can accomplish when he puts his mind to it. In the words of William Kamkwamba himself, "I try and I made it." How many of our students need to hear this message - that even in the most discouraging circumstances, with a little hard work, people can do big world-changing things.
January 29, 2024
Such an inspiring true story. He was one of the lucky ones, many are not able to achieve what he did, but he fought and still is fighting for others, hoping that every child can get a good education. Such stories give so much hope.
May 3, 2012
When his family slowly begins to starve due to the severe drought in Malawi in Africa, fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba decides to do something about it. Although despair over the family's situation could have overwhelmed him once he was forced to stop attending school, William used an English dictionary to help him comb through science books at the library that might help him solve the villagers' need for water and for electricity. The mechanically-inclined young man was inspired by the picture of a windmill which seemed to offer hope for both of those needs. To the junk yard, he went, sifting through the trash for pieces that might be used in designing the windmill. With the help of friends, he built a windmill whose turning blades produced wind power, which he harnessed in the form of electricity. Back matter includes information about the story behind the story with a photograph of the actual windmill William designed and built. The oil paint and paper collage illustrations are beautiful. My favorite one shows William's imagined windmill bringing water to the earth's surface so the crops are able to grow once again. All those greens and blues herald the usefulness of a sustainable resource such as the wind. Readers can't help but be impressed with William's ingenuity and persistence while others ridiculed him. What an inspiring story!
February 7, 2017
An inspiring story that I plan to encourage my Year 6 students to write. Teaches motivation, resilience, taking action, creativity and what it means to be an inquirer amongst other important themes.
March 21, 2021
3’5 estrellas. No he podido darle mas a pesar de valorar mucho la historia que cuenta, real y muy dura en algunas ocasiones. Pero durante el libro habla mucho de mecanismos y conceptos sobre electricidad que no he podido plasmar en una imagen en mi mente, por lo que esas partes se me han hecho muy lentas y aburridas. Eso sí, la lección que aporta la historia es maravillosa, me quedo con eso.
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April 9, 2019I would use this book as a crossover for two different subject areas, both social studies and science. In our third grade social studies, we cover a unit about wants and needs, as well as, families around the world. Topics in this unit include food and housing in different parts of the world and access to different forms of energy. This would fit great with the book since it goes into detail about foods that are made, how the famine affected the family, and how the main character gained access to electrical energy through the windmill he built. Even more fitting, would be including this book in our science/engineering unit on making our own windmill. The students are first exposed to wind energy through the observation of leaves and other objects being moved by the wind. They are then given totes with numerous materials including wax paper, felt, straws, coffee stirrers, pipe cleaners, tape, and many other items. Through trial and error, using a fan, the kids test out blade designs and angles, until they feel that their design will help them build a successful windmill. The relationship of the book with this unit is very self-explanatory, as both involved planning and making a windmill. Instead of generating electricity, the student-designed windmills will have a shaft that will attempt to spin and lift weights off the floor.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Discussion Questions:
Remember
- Describe what you think were William’s most important steps in planning out and building his windmill.
- Name at least three of William’s inventions, even if they were not successful.
Understand
- Give examples of specific times in the book when William had a setback or failure that caused him to rethink his inventing.
- We know that William went on to go to school and college. Predict how you think this affected his family back in Malawi.
Application
- How can you use William’s planning and description of his windmill blades to help you begin to plan out your own blades to catch the wind?
The blades have to be strong enough to catch the wind, but light enough to be able to turn.
We have to test different angles for our blades so that it will catch the most wind and spin quickly.
William found that a few larger blades were more successful that many small, short blades. We should try to make a set of 3 or 4 larger blades instead of 6 to 8 small ones. This will also be less work to attach them to the shaft.
- Using William’s descriptions of his inventions, choose one to sketch out based on how he describes it.
Analysis
- Compare and Contrast William and George, keeping the following information in mind. The boys are technically cousins and located in the same area, but they are motivated by different things, and have much different outlooks.
- Choose a member of William’s family from the book. Break down their relationship, including how their interactions through the book affect their relationship. Also, take into account William’s actions and inventing, and how this time would impact them as well.
Synthesis
- Construct a map of the places discussed in the book. These places should include at least Williams’s home, his school, and the scrapyard. Use what you know about distance based on how long William tells us it takes to get to these different places.
- Plan out your own invention. Think about a problem that is evident in our world today, or maybe in another place in the world. What could you create to try to improve that situation?
Evaluation
- Do you think that William had more success in building his windmill because he was trying to fulfill a need for his family? Do you think you would be as motivated as him, even though your family already has electricity and plenty of food?
- Think about some character traits that would describe William. List at least 3 traits, and add your reasoning from the book about why you think these traits are evident in his life.
Spur-of-the-moment – I think that William is spontaneous, and when he gets an idea, he runs with it. Examples from the book include the fact that a few of his later inventions didn’t work out because he was so focused on the end goal that he wasn’t as thorough as he should have been. The best example would be the biogas, when he used his mother’s best pot to boil animal feces to try to create it, resulting in a ruined pot and failed experiment.
Caring and Helpful – William doesn’t begin to make his windmill to give him power to play video games or listen to music, though those are both perks of his work. He wants light for his family’s home. He also uses the windmill to help others charge their phones and even finds a way to help his friend run his radio from a small windmill.
Perceptive – William does a great job of using his senses to make judgments about unknown people and situations. He is aware of the sacrifices that his family have endured and can use his knowledge to make the correct decision for the different situations in which he is involved.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Discussion Questions:
Remember
- Describe what you think were William’s most important steps in planning out and building his windmill.
- Name at least three of William’s inventions, even if they were not successful.
Understand
- Give examples of specific times in the book when William had a setback or failure that caused him to rethink his inventing.
- We know that William went on to go to school and college. Predict how you think this affected his family back in Malawi.
Application
- How can you use William’s planning and description of his windmill blades to help you begin to plan out your own blades to catch the wind?
The blades have to be strong enough to catch the wind, but light enough to be able to turn.
We have to test different angles for our blades so that it will catch the most wind and spin quickly.
William found that a few larger blades were more successful that many small, short blades. We should try to make a set of 3 or 4 larger blades instead of 6 to 8 small ones. This will also be less work to attach them to the shaft.
- Using William’s descriptions of his inventions, choose one to sketch out based on how he describes it.
Analysis
- Compare and Contrast William and George, keeping the following information in mind. The boys are technically cousins and located in the same area, but they are motivated by different things, and have much different outlooks.
- Choose a member of William’s family from the book. Break down their relationship, including how their interactions through the book affect their relationship. Also, take into account William’s actions and inventing, and how this time would impact them as well.
Synthesis
- Construct a map of the places discussed in the book. These places should include at least Williams’s home, his school, and the scrapyard. Use what you know about distance based on how long William tells us it takes to get to these different places.
- Plan out your own invention. Think about a problem that is evident in our world today, or maybe in another place in the world. What could you create to try to improve that situation?
Evaluation
- Do you think that William had more success in building his windmill because he was trying to fulfill a need for his family? Do you think you would be as motivated as him, even though your family already has electricity and plenty of food?
- Think about some character traits that would describe William. List at least 3 traits, and add your reasoning from the book about why you think these traits are evident in his life.
Spur-of-the-moment – I think that William is spontaneous, and when he gets an idea, he runs with it. Examples from the book include the fact that a few of his later inventions didn’t work out because he was so focused on the end goal that he wasn’t as thorough as he should have been. The best example would be the biogas, when he used his mother’s best pot to boil animal feces to try to create it, resulting in a ruined pot and failed experiment.
Caring and Helpful – William doesn’t begin to make his windmill to give him power to play video games or listen to music, though those are both perks of his work. He wants light for his family’s home. He also uses the windmill to help others charge their phones and even finds a way to help his friend run his radio from a small windmill.
Perceptive – William does a great job of using his senses to make judgments about unknown people and situations. He is aware of the sacrifices that his family have endured and can use his knowledge to make the correct decision for the different situations in which he is involved.
January 9, 2023
This amazing memoir is that of a Malawi teenager named William Kamkwamba, who made a DIY windmill so that his family could get electricity in their village home. The memoir begins dramatically, with William climbing up the windmill to get it going while dozens of jeering and sceptical fellow villagers look on; from there, it rewinds to William’s early years, a brief history of his family, and how a devastating famine brought home to William the fact that his family’s livelihood was very precarious. So precarious that he, having been forced to drop out from school thanks to severe poverty, took to reading voraciously at the library - enough to enable him to build his own windmill.
Besides the fact that this book is hugely inspiring, it’s also a disturbingly honest look at Africa’s poverty. Kamkwamba’s description of the famine is immensely detailed and disturbing; what is even more disturbing is that this isn’t some long-ago famine; it happened in the 21st century. Also, the superstition, the belief in wizards and magic that he describes took me aback a bit - not so much when it came to the beliefs of illiterate villagers (who, I’m sure, might be of a similar mindset in other places too, including India), but that the government of Malawi itself made references to these.
But. Overall, a brilliant book: I could not help but admire Kamkwamba’s creativity, his urge to learn, his resilience and sheer intelligence. The book is written in a very readable, often witty style that makes for an easy, engrossing read.
Besides the fact that this book is hugely inspiring, it’s also a disturbingly honest look at Africa’s poverty. Kamkwamba’s description of the famine is immensely detailed and disturbing; what is even more disturbing is that this isn’t some long-ago famine; it happened in the 21st century. Also, the superstition, the belief in wizards and magic that he describes took me aback a bit - not so much when it came to the beliefs of illiterate villagers (who, I’m sure, might be of a similar mindset in other places too, including India), but that the government of Malawi itself made references to these.
But. Overall, a brilliant book: I could not help but admire Kamkwamba’s creativity, his urge to learn, his resilience and sheer intelligence. The book is written in a very readable, often witty style that makes for an easy, engrossing read.
October 22, 2023
So wish I had the time to read this entire book with my class for our Kids with Courage unit, but will definitely share his TEDTalk and certain sections.
His story really made me reflect on how our school system often unintentionally grinds out the natural curiosity that blooms in every child. His sheer will to survive is what made him so invested in continuing his education, even after he no longer had the means to attend, and pursue his own independent studies in the local library. Literacy is truly freedom, and I wish more students had the chance to tinker and dream and problem-solve instead of doing worksheets.
Even more inspirational than his achievements is his desire to return to his village again and again and continue making improvements for the people left behind.
His story really made me reflect on how our school system often unintentionally grinds out the natural curiosity that blooms in every child. His sheer will to survive is what made him so invested in continuing his education, even after he no longer had the means to attend, and pursue his own independent studies in the local library. Literacy is truly freedom, and I wish more students had the chance to tinker and dream and problem-solve instead of doing worksheets.
Even more inspirational than his achievements is his desire to return to his village again and again and continue making improvements for the people left behind.
March 29, 2018
Read this book to my fourth grade class as we studied African countries, and it was a hit! Powerful true story about a boy in Malawi who survived famine/starvation and used his creativity and love for Science to harness wind-power for electricity.
January 13, 2013
The true story of a 14 year old young man who in the midst of a famine used ingenuity, creativity, and imagination to save his village. Great inspirational story!
January 8, 2020
I like this book because the way the william Kamkwamba put his life story in order.The way he started to explore the yard to get the things for windmill.
April 13, 2023
2.5 stars
Read for school.
Read for school.
January 27, 2022
I read this with my 4th & 5th graders every year and it’s so inspiring and fun. Can be connected to science and engineering. A must read :)
April 16, 2022
4.5 very intriguing book for young boys, especially those that like to tinker and destroy stuff. :) The boys enjoyed the funny episodes and were sad at the emotional places (one says he would give the book an 8 out of 10, but wanted to be sure I knew that the famine and dog death got zero stars from him). It broadened their cultural horizons, was inspiring, enjoyable, and made science interesting.
February 29, 2024
read this for class. very interesting and i enjoyed reading it
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