The New Norm - by Matthew J Gilbert (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A chronically online middle schooler tries to bring his social media fame into his real life in this new middle grade series about surviving cringe both on the internet and IRL!

Everyone's got a lot to say on the Meadowview Middle School social media forum. From roasts of Mrs. Klinger's morning announcements to rage-bait cafeteria pizza reviews, the tea is hot!

And in the middle of it all is Alexander "Norm" Norman, who has just gone unintentionally viral across the internet and become a middle-school celebrity. Pretty sweet, right? Well, not so much. Can Norm balance his real friends and his new fame--and make it through the first week of school without getting totally roasted in the chat?

Review Quotes

Peppered with slang, this is an amusing take on the pitfalls of fame that will appeal to those looking for a light read.--Kirkus "7/1/2026"

Gilbert captures the outsize emotional stakes of everyday middle school moments with keen insight, and Norm's wry, self-aware narration is both amusing and relatable. The result is a timely look at the tension between online identity and real-life relationships--and the cost of trying to maintain both.--Publishers Weekly "2/23/2026"

About the Author

Matthew J. Gilbert is a New York Times bestselling author with more than fifty books to his credit, including this one! Besides writing The New Norm series, he has written books for some of the world's most beloved brands including Stranger Things, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more. Under the pen name Jordan Quinn, Matthew is the writer for the Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly graphic novel series for Simon & Schuster. Before becoming an author, Matthew was an award-winning TV writer for Nickelodeon. He currently lives in Ohio with his wife and loyal cat sidekick. Visit him online at MattGilbertWrites.com.