Lensey Namioka was born on June 14, 1929, in Beijing, China. Her family moved to the United States when she was eight years old. Namioka's early experiences as an immigrant to America form the basis for some of her books, including the Yang family chronicles, April and the Dragon Lady, and the latter part of Ties that Bind, Ties that Break. Namioka hasn't always been a writer. She taught mathematics at Cornell University and worked as a translator for the American Mathematical Society. Her husband, Isaac Namioka, is also a mathematician. They live in Seattle and have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Books for young people by Lensey Namioka include: Coming of the Bear, Island of the Ogres, Den of the White Fox, and April and the Dragon Lady.