2025 Nutmeg Award Middle School Nominees

2025 Nutmeg Book Award
Middle School Nominees
Grades 7-8
AFRICAN TOWN
by Irene Latham and Charles Waters
In 1860, 110 Africans were taken and brought
to America, as a wager to evade the prohibition
on the importation of slaves. Fourteen
characters relay the story through their
thoughts and feelings. Once emancipated and
unable to return to Africa, they established
Africatown, a place where they could follow
the customs and traditions of their ancestors.
KING AND THE DRAGONFLIES
by Kacen Callender
King's world is falling apart; his brother Khalid
unexpectedly passed away, his close-knit family
is drenched with grief, and his once best friend
Sandy is missing. Before his death Khalid warned
King to stay away from Sandy because he’s gay.
When Sandy shows up in need of help, King is
forced to face thoughts about his own identity
and future.
BLOOM
by Kenneth Oppel
When mysterious black plants suddenly appear
and grow wild, engulfing and poisoning all in
their path, teens Anaya, Petra, and Seth realize
they have something in common- all three of
them are immune. Now it's up to them to
discover the secrets behind the botanical
invasion.
OBIE IS MAN ENOUGH
by Schuyler Bailar
Obie is a transgender tween trying to find where
he belongs. He discovers that people once
important to him react negatively to his
transition. Luckily, he has support from his new
friends, his family, and his first crush. Obie just
might find his place in competitive swimming
and prove that he is as good as any other boy.
ELATSOE
by Darcie Little Badger, art by
Rovina Cai
When Ellie’s favorite cousin Trevor dies in a
terrible car crash, she doesn’t believe it was an
accident. As her search for clues leads her to
the picture perfect but very private town of
Willowbee, Ellie enlists her friends and family,
both living and dead, to help her find his killer.
STARFISH
By Lisa Fipps
Ellie has always struggled with body image. She
is bullied at school and pressured by her mom to
lose weight. The only time she feels herself is
when she is swimming, taking up all the space
she wants. With help from her dad, her friend
Catalina, and her therapist, Ellie must learn to
love herself.
INVISIBLE
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez,
art by Gabriela Epstein
Five students with nothing in common aside
from their Latinx roots form an unlikely
friendship after getting into trouble. The
community service may have been assigned,
but when they find an opportunity to really
help, will they stand up for others or will they
remain invisible?
TROUBLEMAKER
By John Cho
Korean American Jordan makes a desperate trip
through the streets of Los Angeles to help his
father fortify the family store against the LA
Riots. As the night wears on, he finds help and
hindrances in surprising places, and ultimately
has to decide the kind of person he wants to be.
IVELIZ EXPLAINS IT ALL
by Andrea Beatriz Arango, art by
Alyssa Bermudez
Iveliz records her struggles dealing with starting
seventh grade, changing friend relationships,
dealing with depression and PTSD, and a
grandmother with Alzheimer’s in the only place
she can speak her mind: her journal. But can
she find a way to say what she needs to say
out loud before it's too late?
YEAR OF THE REAPER
by Makiia Lucier
Lord Cassia finally returns home three years
after being captured and catching the plague. His
devastated country is at peace but he finds his
castle overrun with the royal court taking refuge.
When a killer starts attacking those closest to
the foreign queen and threatening the shaky
peace, it falls to Cas to unravel the treacherous
secrets of what happened while he was gone.
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