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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I used this book to teach my 7th grade students about solving our world’s problems using STEM. It has really great messages about perseverance, and it’s quite relatable for my at-risk population. Kids come into my classroom each day and immediately pull this book off the shelf. I am hoping that they find this book to be empowering, and that it reaches the students who maybe aren’t as interested in English as they are in Science, Math, Coding, etc.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
When famine strikes Malawi, William's family struggles to survive, leaving school fees out of the question. Determined to care for his family and continue his education, he harnesses the energy of the wind to light the family's home, draw water from the ground, and bring prosperity to his village. In his inspiring memoir, Kamkwamba paints an intimate portrait of rural Malawi and demonstrates the power of one individual to brighten his community.
Terrific story about one boy's curiosity and persistence and where it led him. It also presents a vivid portrait of life in Malawi. Sadly, I still don't understand how electricity works, but it's not his fault.
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
What an amazing book! I didn't think I'd like it too much because what do I care about a boy in Africa who builds a windmill? But this book is so well written, I loved learning about the culture of Malawi, and actually enjoyed reading about electricity, windmills, and engineering. I get so happy when I read about people who come from difficult circumstances and work hard to have a better life.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
There are some slower parts in the book, but gosh this book is so inspiring, amazing, and sad. It is an emotional roller coaster where you will root for the MC throughout the book. Beautiful ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
The book is very uneven.
The first section slowly relates life in rural Malawi. It is often meandering and, although fairly interesting, the point of it all is sometimes lost.
The second part, on the famine and the protagonist starting to build windmills, is truly great. It blends a captivating account of a country suffering with an exhilarating insight into the ingenuity of a 14-year old looking for a way to better the conditions for his family and the rest of his village.
The third and final part suddenly becomes a very superficial good-news show and replaces the inspiring narrative by a cheap attempt to convey something like the American dream in the best of all worlds.
All in all it was a good read, but not certainly not an exceptional book.
The first section slowly relates life in rural Malawi. It is often meandering and, although fairly interesting, the point of it all is sometimes lost.
The second part, on the famine and the protagonist starting to build windmills, is truly great. It blends a captivating account of a country suffering with an exhilarating insight into the ingenuity of a 14-year old looking for a way to better the conditions for his family and the rest of his village.
The third and final part suddenly becomes a very superficial good-news show and replaces the inspiring narrative by a cheap attempt to convey something like the American dream in the best of all worlds.
All in all it was a good read, but not certainly not an exceptional book.
Very powerful book with a strong message. My daughter read the the graphic novel version and also enjoyed it quite a bit. Will look up the TED talk discussed and show to my high school students!
Actually listened to this book, but am switching my audio books to non-audio for my pages read records.
Actually listened to this book, but am switching my audio books to non-audio for my pages read records.