BORNTRAGER, Mary Christner 1921-

PERSONAL: Born March 27, 1921, in Plain City, OH; daughter of Noah J. (a farmer) and Mattie (a homemaker; maiden name, Yoder) Christner; married John T. Borntrager (a farmer), June 27, 1940; children: Noah Jay, E. Kathryn, John T., Geneva. Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Quilting, writing poetry, table games, reading.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Herald Press, 616 Walnut Ave., Scottdale, PA 15683.

CAREER: Youth social worker, 1966-78; full-time poet and writer. Public speaker.

AWARDS, HONORS: Angel Award from producer Mary Dorr, 1988, for Ellie.

WRITINGS:

young adult novels; "ellie's people" series

Ellie, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1988.

Rebecca, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1989.

Rachel, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1990.

Daniel, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1991.

Reuben, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1992.

Andy, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1993.

Polly, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1994.

Sarah, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1995.

Mandy, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1996.

Annie, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1997.

SIDELIGHTS: Mary Christner Borntrager once told CA: "To preserve the family heritage and to answer many questions for my children and grandchildren, I wrote my first novel, Ellie. It is important to me to uphold good moral values.

"The many requests I received after Ellie was available to the public inspired me to continue writing. Ellie was nominated as one of five finalists for the Gold Medallion Award. The stories grew into a series called 'Ellie's People.'"

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

School Library Journal, August, 1997, Wendy Luke-hart, review of Annie, p. 154.*