By the Book: Johneen Anderson, West Kearns Elementary

Johneen has been working as a media clerk at West Kearns Elementary for 25 years. Her commitment to the students and library at West Kearns is exceptional and she is always happy to provides support and words of encouragement to new media clerks throughout the district.

By the Book

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling and Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

What was the last great book you read?

The Lake House by Kate Morton

The last book that made you cry?

Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys, which is a great book about World War II.

The last book that made you laugh?


So many books by Richard Peck (love his books!), The Teacher’s Funeral,
A Long Way to Chicago, A Year Down Yonder, and Here Lies the Librarian.

What kind of reader were you as a child? What childhood books and authors stick with you the most?

I loved reading all of the Nancy Drew books. I also loved reading biographies, Clara Barton and Milton Hershey stand out in my mind. As I got older I couldn’t get enough of Victoria Holt novels. Christy was beautiful.

What is the best book you were required to read as a student?

I will always remember Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. We had to read some very hard books that were very emotional and depressing. They will stick with me. Another great one was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

What book did you hate reading as a student?

The Day No Pigs Will Die by Robert Newton Peck, The Red Pony by John Steinbeck, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

What is your favorite book to recommend to children?


The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban, the Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan, Jacob’s Rescue: The Holocaust Story by Malka Drucker, and Wonder by R.J. Palacio

If you could only bring three book to a desert island, which would you pack?

The Old and New Testament, Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, and The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

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13 thoughts on “By the Book: Johneen Anderson, West Kearns Elementary”

  1. Johneen is one of my very best friends and a great librarian mentor. I started working in the Oquirrh Hills Library under her great tutoring and teaching. She is always telling me about the last great book she has read and we talk all the time about books we are reading to the students in our schools and the fun time we have in our jobs. Johneen you are the BEST!

  2. I haven’t read any of Richard Peck’s books but now they are high on my very long list! I also love to recommend Wonder and the Ranger’s Apprentice series.

  3. I also loved Salt to the Sea. There are a couple others I’m adding to my list from your recommendations. Thanks Johneen!

  4. Johneed I think we love the same kinds of books.
    I loved CHRISTY, SALT TO THE SEA and The RANGERS APPRENTICE. I read everything by Richard Peck, as well. Thanks Johneen.

  5. I have read “A Crooked Kind of Perfect” and used to recommend it. Thanks for the reminder.

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