The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Young Readers Edition

William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer, Anna Hymas

$14.99

Paperback

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English

Puffin
29 February 2016

Children's & Educational; History & the past: general interest (Children's&YA); People & places (Children's&YA)

William Kamkwamba grew up in a tiny farming village in Malawi, Africa, without electricity. When a drought destroyed the crops and famine resulted, William's family could no longer afford his school tuition. He continued to study on his own, though, painstakingly translating an English science textbook and figuring out how to build a windmill out of old bike parts and other scraps. To the wonder of his community, he brought electricity to his home, and later to his whole village--and thus water as well. Includes an eight-page insert of photographs.

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.

By: William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Illustrated by: Anna Hymas
Imprint: Puffin
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 232g
ISBN: 9780147510426
ISBN 10: 0147510422
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 29 February 2016
Recommended Age: From 10 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , Children / Juvenile
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

William Kamkwamba recently graduated from Dartmouth College. The original version of his memoir The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was a New York Times Bestseller and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. He divides his time between Malawi and San Francisco, California. Bryan Mealer is the author of Muck City: Winning and Losing in Football's Forgotten Town and All Things Must Fight to Live, which chronicled his years covering the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a reporter for the Associated Press and Harper's. His work has appeared in the anthology Best American Travel Writing and was chosen for an Overseas Press Club Award Citation. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Reviews for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition

[An] inspiring story of curiosity and ingenuity. -- Publishers Weekly This book will appeal to adults eager to impart an uplifting Third World human-interest story, but it is also sure to resonate with children who will simply love the curiosity, resilience and resourcefulness of this doughty African youth. -- Wall Street Journal A powerful, gorgeously illustrated children's picture book. -- The Boston Globe This is a dynamic portrait of a young person whose connection to the land, concern for his community, and drive to solve problems offer an inspiring model. -- School Library Journal Zunon illustrates handsomely, with contrasting cut-paper-collage details and broad, sere landscapes painted in visibly textured oils. -- Kirkus This picture book in accessible free verse will draw kids who love to construct their own engineering gadgets. -- Booklist Cooperative Children's Book Center's 2013 Best-of-the-year list. -- CCBC