Way to Go: Mary Zabransky, Elwood
Mary Zabransky, a sophomore at Elwood-John H. Glenn High School, has published a book of reflections on gender roles. Credit: xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><NroomObject> <Story version="1.0" type="1" product="NewsRoom"> <resources> <fonts/> <defaultcstyle/> </resources> <styles stylesheet="" initialtag=""> </styles> <taglist> <tag fStatus="0" fAttribute="0" fApply="0" name="" n="0" mc="0" dwSpecs="2"/> </taglist> <text sm="-1"><![CDATA[Elwood School District]]></text> </Story></NroomObject>
An Elwood teenager has written and published her first book after exploring the topics of stereotypes and gender barriers.
Mary Zabransky, a sophomore at Elwood-John H. Glenn High School, completed the 84-page book, titled “I Understand,” over the summer after writing daily in a journal given to her by a former teacher.
She was inspired by analysis of Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House” in an English class last school year and what she read about Tasmanian artist Sonia Singh, who is known to give “make-unders” to Bratz dolls in an effort to encourage positive body images.
Zabransky, 15, gave “make-unders” to 33 dolls by removing their makeup and fancy clothing and giving them to classmates. Her book further explores the themes through poetry, short stories and her interpretations of various motivational quotes.
“I was inspired to compile a collection of concentrated thoughts in hopes to present the reader with something much more than simply reading about or possessing a doll,” Zabransky said of her book. “All people have the ability to do amazing things. Just be yourself and everyone will benefit.”
Zabransky is captain of her school’s varsity cheerleading team and a member of the track team. She studies tae kwon do in her free time.
Her book is available via the California-based self-publishing platform Blurb.com.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
'Tis the season for the NewsdayTV Holiday Show! The NewsdayTV team looks at the most wonderful time of the year and the traditions that make it special on LI.
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