The New Norm: Volume 1
Will be published approx. on 18. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
979-8-3471-0339-3 (ISBN)
Description
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?
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?
Reviews / Votes
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 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Third Grade to Seventh Grade, Interest Age: From 8 to 12 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
f-c matte cvr w-emboss, 5th color, & spot UV; b-w int illus.
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
163 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-3471-0339-3 (9798347103393)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Matthew J. Gilbert is the author of more than forty books, including this one! Besides coauthoring the award-nominated Classroom 13 series, he has written books for some of the world's most beloved properties including Stranger Things, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TRON, and more. Under the pen name Jordan Quinn, Matthew is the writer for the Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly graphic novel series. Before becoming an author, Matthew was an award-winning TV writer for Nickelodeon, working in creative advertising for big Hollywood movies...all from a tiny cubicle in New York City. He currently lives in far-too-sunny California with his wife and loyal cat sidekick.