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Description
After witnessing the devastating effects of poverty in his home country of Bangladesh, economist Muhammad Yunus developed an innovative solution: micro-lending. This biography follows his journey from a small experiment lending just twenty-two cents to forty-two women to founding the Grameen Bank, which has helped millions escape poverty worldwide. The book reveals how one person's determination to challenge traditional banking systems changed the global approach to ending poverty.
Quick Summary
Imagine giving a few dollars to a group of women in a tiny Bangladeshi village and watching that tiny amount spark a worldwide movement that's the kind of eye-opening story you'll find in this fast-moving biography. If you're a middle-grade reader who loves true stories about people who use clever ideas to change the world, Paula Yoo's account of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is a perfect fit. The book mixes clear explanations of micro-lending with vivid snapshots of Yunus's childhood, his time as a student in the United States, and the gritty reality of the 1974 famine that pushed him to act. There are moments that show the harshness of poverty, but they're balanced with hopeful tales of how a small loan helped families start businesses, send kids to school, and lift entire neighborhoods. The narrative follows Yunus as he talks to villagers, convinces skeptical bankers, and watches his first loan of twenty-two cents grow into the Grameen Bank that has served millions. Fans of *The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* will recognize the same spirit of youthful ingenuity and the belief that one person can make a big difference. It's a short, easy read that proves you don't need a huge budget to change the world just a big heart and a willingness to try something new.