A review by leannaaker
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba

4.0

This is a great story....the kind that you imagine are still possible in the world, but don't really believe it. William, who loves in an impoverished area in Africa, gets books from a local library (that he struggles to even read, since he didn't have enough money to attend secondary school) and learns enough about electricity and magnetism to build a windmill that gives power to his family's home. He doesn't stop there, though, as he continues to build circuit breakers, rudimentary light switches, water pumps, and transformers. He is discovered and gets to travel and speak about his windmill, and get more schooling.

This is a feel good tale, but the book is not always roses. The first third of the book is setting the backstory for how impoverished Malawi is. This part of the book is slow to get going, but by the time you get to the heavy duty "windmill part," you are sooooo cheering on William.