The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Movie Tie-in Edition): Young Readers Edition

Author(s): William Kamkwamba

Biographies & Memoir

The bestselling story of the young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village, now in an accessible middle grade edition.


When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. The family was starving, and they could hardly find money for food, let alone school fees. Forced to drop out, William began to explore the science books in his village library. There, he came up with an idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill would bring electricity to his home and help his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.


Retold for a middle grade audience, this inspiring memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world.


Product Information

"[An] inspiring story of curiosity and ingenuity." Publishers Weekly "This book will appeal to adults eager to impart an uplifting Third World human-interest story, but it is also sure to resonate with children who will simply love the curiosity, resilience and resourcefulness of this doughty African youth." Wall Street Journal "A powerful, gorgeously illustrated children's picture book." The Boston Globe "This is a dynamic portrait of a young person whose connection to the land, concern for his community, and drive to solve problems offer an inspiring model." School Library Journal "Zunon illustrates handsomely, with contrasting cut-paper-collage details and broad, sere landscapes painted in visibly textured oils." Kirkus "This picture book in accessible free verse will draw kids who love to construct their own engineering gadgets." Booklist Cooperative Children s Book Center s 2013 Best-of-the-year list. CCBC"

William Kamkwamba recently graduated from Dartmouth College. The original version of his memoir "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" was a "New York Times" Bestseller and a "Publishers Weekly" Best Book of the Year. He divides his time between Malawi and San Francisco, California. Bryan Mealer is the author of "Muck City: Winning and Losing in Football's Forgotten Town "and" All Things Must Fight to Live, "which chronicled his years covering the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a reporter for the Associated Press and Harper's. His work has appeared in the anthology "Best American Travel Writing" and was chosen for an Overseas Press Club Award Citation. He lives in Austin, Texas.

General Fields

  • : 9780147510426
  • : Penguin Publishing Group
  • : Penguin Publishing Group
  • : 0.232239
  • : January 2016
  • : 196mm X 127mm X 25mm
  • : February 2016
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : illustrations
  • : 304
  • : 621.4/53096897
  • : English
  • : Elizabeth Zunon
  • : 1
  • : Paperback
  • : William Kamkwamba