An interest in literature sparked in Mary Holtslander from a young age. As a child reading books far above her grade level, she came to see the wonders that studying in school could do for her. She took an interest in her mother's field of study, literacy coaching, to explore the shortcomings of education for children today.  After further pursuing the topic of the deficit in literacy she understood the issues faced by children in the United States and grew a passion for learning the ways these children can be assisted so they may grow to love literature as she does.