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ktemma's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story that probably sums up what Africa is about, surviving and even flourishing in the face of adverse circumstances. But what makes William's story unique is that it is extraordinarily unbelievable. Even poverty, famine and dropping out of school did not deter him from pursing his dreams. One thing that really got me thinking was that all William wanted was to solve a problem his family and village was facing. He wanted to provide electricity for them to stay up later than 7 p.m. each night and to power pumps for irrigation so they can plant maize twice a year and not go hungry. Little did he know the level of fame his electric wind would bring him.
It also drives home how desperate Africa is in need of accountable leaders. There's some real potential but with bad leadership many people give up being innovative just to survive each day. People are also scared of challenging the status quo - just see what happened to Chief Wimbe. Stories like this are some real source of inspiration to many Africans trying to make things better within their communities. From being a dropout at an obscure village school to an alumni of the prestigious African Leadership Academy and then Dartmouth College - with hard work and unrelenting determination, even dreams undreamed certainly do come true!
It also drives home how desperate Africa is in need of accountable leaders. There's some real potential but with bad leadership many people give up being innovative just to survive each day. People are also scared of challenging the status quo - just see what happened to Chief Wimbe. Stories like this are some real source of inspiration to many Africans trying to make things better within their communities. From being a dropout at an obscure village school to an alumni of the prestigious African Leadership Academy and then Dartmouth College - with hard work and unrelenting determination, even dreams undreamed certainly do come true!
thinksync_'s review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
funwithmisssyd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
5.0
emily_m_green's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer is William’s story of how he not only built a windmill, but was able to bring power, in more ways than one, to his home country of Malawi.
William loved to go to school. School was a great privilege, as it was costly. His parents did everything they could to pay for his education—until they couldn’t. When a famine hit his home, there was no money, not even for food. As William describes it, the famine was as terrifying and deadly as a tornado or other natural disaster, but the famine took longer to kill people. Eventually, the famine ended, but the consequences lingered, including the economic impact. With no monetary reserves left, and the family only beginning to have enough food, there is not enough money for William to go to school.
He tries to sneak in, but it is eventually detected. He tries to learn from a friend who is still in school, but it is not enough. Eventually, with the hope that he will not fall too far behind his peers, William goes to the library. It is a small library, with only a few shelves, but William finds books that he can read. As he is reading, he gets the idea to build a windmill.
Most of the book focuses on William’s journey to build the windmill. There are many steps in building it, beginning with a dynamo, which allows William to create electricity from another form of energy. At first, it is through pedaling a bicycle. Over time, William gathers parts as he can find them--mostly discarded pieces, but there are times when he must scratch up the money for something that can only be bought. Through imagination, experimentation, and perseverance, he is able to create a working windmill.
Eventually, word of William’s windmill gets out. Journalists come to interview him and to take pictures of his windmill. A blogger hears about it, and writes an article, which spreads word of him further. William becomes a TED fellow. From there, people and groups help him so that he is able to gain more education and knowledge.
It is an incredible story, but also frustrating. Why can’t help come from within? Why does the money have to come from outside of Malawi, even outside of Africa? The disparity in wealth and resources is unconscionable.
Would I teach this book? The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a choice for a non-fiction unit I teach. Students chose it, but it was not nearly as popular as the sports choices.
Those who did choose the book did not seem nearly as inspired as the book is meant to be. To think that someone would work so hard to achieve such a goal is something I find amazing--but an American middle school student might find this further outside the bounds of their imagination. With such blessings as running water, electricity, and education, it is hard to fathom what life might be without these things. However, even if a book cannot bring the understanding entirely home when they are an adolescent, it may plant an idea that they will return to later and it might inspire them to do good things.
bwilcox's review against another edition
5.0
Great inspirational book. great read, it was funny, yet also had some very dad parts. Great for any age 11 and up.