Mary Zabransky, a sophomore at Elwood-John H. Glenn High School, visited Megan Gieser’s eighth-grade English class at Elwood Middle School to discuss her recently published book, “I Understand,” and the significance of her writing.

Following a school reading assignment about Sonia Singh, a woman who buys dolls, removes their heavy makeup and donates them with a more natural appearance, Zabransky explored the theme of stereotypical standards. As a result of her research, she wrote and published her first book, which contains a variety of inspirational vignettes, quotes and poems.