Take a photo of a barcode or cover
judyward 's review for:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
by William Kamkwamba
I picked up this book numerous times at the library, but always put it back on the shelf--probably because of the yellow jacket, a prejudice which I have never understood about myself. But after reading a glowing review, I checked it out. And I'm glad that I did. What an inspiring read. William Kamkwamba was born and raised in Malawi in a small village. Forced to leave school at age 14 because his parents could no longer afford his tuition, he continues to try to find books which he can read and study. Reading about windmills, he realized that a windmill could bring electricity and running water to his rural village. Unbelievably, only about 2% of the citizens of Malawi have electricity and running water. Obviously, no one throught that he could build a windmill because of the poverty in which he lived. However, using scrap metal, the frames from old bicycles, and tractor parts, William is able to build a windmill that powered four lights with homemade switches and a circuit breaker made of nails and wire. A second windmill provided the power to turn a water pump allowing the village to have running water with which to fight the frequent droughts that threatened their crops. This book celebrates the power of one individual with a dream to transform their tiny part of the world.