Mattern, Jon

Jon attended 8th grade at Putnam County Junior High in Illinois when he became a young author. He was motivated to write Marion's story after learning she attended school as a young girl in Peoria, Illinois - just 45 minutes from his hometown. Jon has always been interested in World War II and was happy to have a chance to preserve history by writing and illustrating Marion's moving story. Jon lives in rural Magnolia, Illinois, with his parents, George and Margy, and his siblings, Christine, Anna, and Nick. He is interested in military history, hot rods and muscle cars. He also loves to draw.