The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2 versions)

I just love true stories, especially about young people who make an amazing difference to their own lives as well as others. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is one such story. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer and they actually wrote two versions. One is a Picture Book for ages 5 to 9 illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon and the other is a Young Reader’s Edition for ages 10 to 14.

When William was 14, his Malawi village was hit by a drought and everyone’s crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, there certainly wasn’t enough money for William to go to school. So, he spent his days in a make shift library near the school figuring out how to bring electricity to his village. Which he eventually made happen.

The Young Reader’s Edition is a wonderful detailed biography of William’s life and challenges in Malawi, a tiny nation in southeastern Africa. We learn a great deal about William’s family of farmers and all the difficulties of farming in this very poor country. We also learn how William discovers science, which will hold his imagination, dreams, determination and will to innovate, leading him to create his inventions.

This story is a wonderful adventurous tale that allows the reader to grow up with William, year by year and experience by experience. The reader cannot help but be moved by the struggles of William and his family as they survive a challenging life in Africa. The importance of connections and friendships when all may seem lost is also explored. William scavenges in a junkyard for usable parts for his inventions that capture our imaginations. He is a self-taught young man. One of his inventions in particular becomes his crowning achievement making him the local hero who harnessed the wind. William’s windmill brought electricity to his family’s home and helped the family to pump the water needed to farm their land.

This is an excellent true story showing us how one individual uses hard work and determination, even in dire circumstances, to bring about a beneficial reward to an entire community.

What is very exciting to me is that this story is presented in two versions. One, I used in kids camps at The Episcopal Church in Almaden, and the other one is perfect for the older teen and grownup interested in “making a difference” in a local community. Both are written by William Kamkwambe and Bryan Mealer, but they collaborated with others to bring one version to life using pictures. These books are worth looking into as they are very inspiring for all.