Sandra Benítez is a notable Puerto Rican author known for her contributions to literature. She was born in 1955 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has written several novels, short stories, and essays. Her works often explore themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of Puerto Ricans, both on the island and in the diaspora. Benítez gained recognition for her novel, The Weight of All Things, which tells the story of a young boy during the turbulent times of the Puerto Rican independence movement. Her writing has earned her various awards, including the PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant, highlighting her impact on contemporary literature.