Dinaw Mengestu is an Ethiopian-American author known for his poignant storytelling and exploration of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience. Born in Addis Ababa in 1978, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. His works often reflect his own experiences as an immigrant and delve into the complexities of cultural belonging. Mengestu gained recognition with his debut novel, Children of the Revolution, which was published in 2007. He has received several awards for his writing, including the National Book Award and the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award. His novels often blend personal narratives with broader social themes, making them both relatable and thought-provoking.