THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (YOUNG READER'S EDITION)

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.

GREEN LIGHT

AGES: 5th - 9th Grade

I recently read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. I was unbelievably moved by this true story which is why it is being added to my SARAH'S FAVORITES BOOKLIST. This book is definitely worth the read as a READ ALONE or a READ ALOUD to the family. See the HEADS UP below for age appropriateness.

William Kamkwamba was a teen who loved learning. Living in Malawi, Africa, good schools were not easy to come by, and when devastating events such as a famine struck, the money needed to attend a school wasn't available. That's the situation William found himself in. Instead of doing nothing, he began frequenting a very small library and checking out the science books on harnessing electricity, building motors, and other practical hands-on books. William's love for this type of knowledge was a literal hunger inside him that needed fed, and he did so on his own. From his knowledge, he began experimenting with a way to create a windmill that would produce electricity benefitting his family and his neighbors that lived in this extremely impoverished area of Africa.

When I closed the cover, I literally wanted to cheer out loud for the determination - the persistent attitude of overcoming obstacles, the willingness to fail and try again, the continual positive attitude - that young William consistently demonstrated. The innocent nervousness, yet willingness, to take a risk and step out on big stages to share his story when the opportunities arose is absolutely refreshing. Not found in this book is one iota of entitlement mentality that plagues are American culture so much in today's world. Want to hand your child a book of amazing possibility when it seems that there's nothing to do? Grab this one, and expand their perspective. I did! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

HEADS UP - In the beginning of the story, there is some sharing of beliefs of the Malawian people that includes magic and witch doctors. It sets the stage for the mentality that William found himself up against with his people. However, as the book progresses, there is a definite Christian influence that has entered the area and affected William and his father's thinking. There is an occasional use of "My God" in the story. Sometimes it feels like it is more a direct attribution to God versus a cursing of His name.