mengestu's second novel, "how to read the air", was published in october 2010. part of the novel was excerpted in the july 12, 2010, issue of "the new yorker", after mengestu was selected as one of their "20 under 40" writers of 2010. this novel was also the winner of the 2011 ernest j. gaines award for literary excellence. this literary award was established in 2007 by the baton rouge area foundation.