Leah Anderson, an 8th grader at East Hardin Middle, is snowed in just like the rest of us. What’s she doing with all this spare time? Well, I’d bet she’s reading LOTS of books!
To say Anderson is an avid reader would be more than accurate. She read 105 books in 2025 and is well on her way to doing so once again this year. Some of us are lucky to have read 105 pages, but books?? Wow, impressive!
Not only did she read a ton of books, but she also crocheted a “book snake” to track her goals.
“I started this snake in March of 2025, and every time I finished a book, I would add a ring, so this was nearly a year-long project,” Anderson explained. “Each color represents what I rated the book out of 5 stars. Pink would be 1, orange would be 2, and it goes down the rainbow with purple being 6 stars.”
“My parents have always encouraged me to read, even from a young age, a lot of that probably coming from my mom being a teacher,” Anderson’s mom is Julie Anderson, junior social studies teacher here at Central. “However, most of my love for reading has come from me trying out new books and genres.”
Leah does not discriminate when it comes to her reads, either.
“One of my favorite genres is fantasy, but I [also] always love romance, mystery/thrillers, dystopian, or a mix of these themes,” Anderson said. “One of my favorite books from last year was Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas, the 6th book in the Throne of Glass series.”
She’s always enjoyed reading and the immersive experience that it is, but really got back into it last year following a good book recommendation from a friend. Anderson says that “every book has its own unique story and characters, and getting immersed in those stories is very enjoyable to me.”
“Reading about different stories and characters has shown me that all types of people have different things that they are going through, and that they all have things that make them unique. This has taught me to be kind to all people and look at them with new perspectives. This has brought me to some of my greatest friendships.” Anderson says that this is a benefit she enjoys about reading, but also notes that, “Reading a lot has made me a better student, especially in ELA. It has taught me new words, new writing styles, and how to get a deeper understanding when reading texts for class. I also look forward to reading assignments now, and I have read some great books for school, like The Hate You Give and The Odyssey.
Anderson is also into all sorts of cozy hobbies that are sure to keep her busy during this snowstorm. She plans to crochet a giraffe to track this year’s reads and make the neck longer with each rating/genre. If last year was any indication, that sure will be a long neck!
“I love to crochet, and I have even started a small business where I sell my stuffed animals at craft fairs. I also play the flute in band, play a little piano, and recently joined Central’s track & field team,” Anderson shared.
Leah Anderson is reading up a storm and staying occupied while it’s cold. This future Bruin reminds us all that reading is cool, and it’s time to get off those devices and dig into a good book!
