The New Norm by Matthew J. Gilbert is about a middle schooler, Alexander "Norm" Norman, who finds himself viral-famous after being chronically ignored because he isn't popular.
Everyone is on the Meadowview Middle School social media forum. It's where everyone goes to discuss everything from the latest morning announcements to the food in the cafeteria, but the gossip is the best part of the forum.
When Norm goes from being the kid no one notices to becoming a middle school celebrity, it seems exciting at first. Everyone wants to talk to him and hang out with him. However, Norm struggles to balance his newfound fame with his real friends. Will he be able to manage both without losing what matters most to him?
This middle-grade chapter book is a quick read that I was able to finish in one sitting. It was an okay read without any unexpected twists or turns. I thought the characters were fine, but I'm not sure I agree that Norm posting a boring video was the right way to apologize. I think he should have skipped that and simply talked to his friends instead.
The book teaches young readers about friendship, belonging, and the downsides of fame. It is the first book in a series that focuses on middle schoolers navigating their social lives both online and in the real world.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.
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