On Tour 4/23/21-5/23/21 “ My Name Is Layla” by Reyna Marder Gentin

Release Date: January 18, 2021

About The Book:

“Layla’s struggles at school and home are authentically depicted, and readers who face their own challenges will relate.” -School Library Journal

School will never be the same.

On the first day of eighth grade, thirteen year-old Layla has a pretty good idea of what’s in store for her–another year of awkward social situations, mediocre grades, and teachers who praise her good behavior but find her academic performance disappointing. Layla feels certain she’s capable of more, but each time she tries to read or write, the words on the page dance and spin, changing partners and leaving her to sit on the sidelines.

This year will be different in ways Layla could never have predicted. Her new English teacher, Mr. McCarthy, senses her potential. When he pushes her to succeed, Layla almost rises to the challenge before making a desperate choice that nearly costs her everything she’s gained. Will she be able to get back on track? And who can she count on to help her?

About The Author:

REYNA MARDER GENTIN lives with her husband and children in Westchester County, New York. Reyna s first novel, Unreasonable Doubts, a romantic legal thriller inspired by her work as a public defender, was a finalist in the Women s Fiction Writers Association Star Award for debut fiction and you can find it at bit.ly/UnreasonableDoubts. Reyna studies at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and her short stories and personal essays have been published widely online and in print. You can find out more by visiting www.reynamardergentin.com. If you’d like to arrange a visit to your school, please contact me at reyna@reynamardergentin.com.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reynamardergentin/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/reynamardergentin

Twitter: @reynagentin

Book Blurbs:

I read My Name is Layla in one sitting, mainly because Layla grabbed my heart on the first page and wouldn’t let go. This story perfectly captures the complexity of one 8th grade girl’s life a very real family dynamic, a perfectly drawn academic challenge and the intense nature of friendship. It’s that rare novel that is highly satisfying but leaves you hoping for more. –Annabel Monaghan, Author of A Girl Name Digit and Double Digit

Hurray for Layla! Warm and insightful, My Name is Layla speaks to the value of friendship, the need for caring teachers, and the power of family love no matter how imperfect that family might be. Layla s struggles will strike a chord with young readers who face their own challenges, and every reader will root for Layla, a girl who only needs a little help to recognize how special she really is. –Diana Harmon Asher, Author of Sidetracked

My Name is Layla is a refreshing look at life today for tweens or young teenagers that offers hope, even after poor choices. My Name Is Layla demonstrates that help can come from unexpected sources. It is a perfect book for anyone who wants to understand the pressures of eighth grade, and possibly even how to help some tweens or teens. –Ann McCauley, Story Circle

Bloggers On Tour:

April 23rd- Cassie’s Book Reviews https://instagram.com/cassies_books_reviews

April 23rd- Dani Reads https://instagram.com/dani.reads.1225

April 24th – Nurse Bookie https://instagram.com/nurse_bookie

April 26th – Rajivs Reviews https://instagram.com/rajivsreviews

April 26th – Chill Jill And Read https://instagram.com/chill_jilland_read

April 26th – Jackie Loves Books https://instagram.com/jackieslovesbooks

April 28th – Lindas Book Obsession https://www.facebook.com/lindasbookobsession/

April 29th-Biblio Reviews https://instagram.com/biblioreviews

April 30th – Delightfully Booked https://instagram.com/delightfullybooked

April 30th- Amy Lynn Lifestyle https://instagram.com/amylynnlifestyle

May 1st- Sho Biz Reads https://instagram.com/shobizreads