2027 Nutmeg Award Intermediate Nominees

The Queen of Ocean Parkway
by Sarvenaz Tash, art by Ericka Lugo
Roya faces a boring summer stuck in the
apartment building where her mom is the
superintendent. But when a tenant goes
missing, she teams up with new kid Amin to
solve the mystery. In the process she learns
about New York City history and goes farther
than she ever dreamed possible.
Select
by Christie Matheson
Alex is really good at soccer and an elite soccer
club called Select wants her on the team. The
new team is hard work, but that’s good, right?
Alex encounters bullies and elitism on the new
team, but not where you think. Can Alex find a
way to stay true to herself and still love soccer?
Tig
by Heather Smith
After moving in with her uncle and his husband,
Tig isn’t sure she belongs in their perfect town.
Between cheese races, bold ideas, and caring
for a dog with a rough past, Tig learns that
family isn’t about perfection; it’s about love,
trust, and finding your place to belong.
2027  Nutmeg Book Award
Intermediate Nominees
Grades 4-6
Creature Clinic
by Gavin Aung Than
Doctor-in-training Kara Orc sees many unusual
patients at the Creature Clinic, the world’s only
hospital for mythical creatures. When Mitch, a
human, unexpectedly needs to stay despite a
“no humans allowed” policy, Dr. Kara has to do
what’s right. Even if it means going head-to-
head with the chief of medicine- her mom.
The Labors of Hercules Beal
by Gary D. Schmidt
Hercules Beal is named after a mythical hero,
yet feels nothing like him. When his teacher
gives him one assignment, to complete the
Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life, Herc
thinks it’s impossible. With no magical monsters
around, can he find the strength to face his own
challenges and live up to his namesake?
Little Monarchs
by Jonathan Case 
In a dystopian future, where the sun has killed
almost every mammal, Elvie and her caregiver,
Flora, have finally found a cure for the deadly
sun sickness. But making enough antidote is
not even the hardest part: can they endure
sickness, natural disasters, and other sinister
survivors?
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
by Chanel Miller
Magnolia Wu is looking for adventure beyond
her parents’ NYC laundromat. When she
makes a like-minded new friend, the girls set
out to reunite Magnolia’s collection of lost socks
with their owners. Through each investigation
the sock detectives get to know more about
their city and how to be good friends.
The Partition Project
by Saadia Faruqi
Maha discovers that history is personal when
she searches for a documentary topic for her
media studies class. While listening to stories of
her Dadi’s youth, Maha discovers that
Pakistan’s split from India, an event that tore
her family and millions of others’ lives apart, is
a story worth sharing.
Squire & Knight
by Scott Chantler
When Sir Kelton rushes off to slay the dragon
terrorizing Bridgetown, his young squire stays
behind to investigate the town’s mysterious
curse. Using wit and research, the squire
uncovers secrets that might save the town,
reveal the true danger, and show that brains
can be mightier than brawn.
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The Myth of Monsters: Medusa
by Katherine Marsh
Ava and Jax’s mother attended Accademia del
Forte, and now it’s their turn. They discover that
the school’s goal is to teach descendants of
mythical monsters to control their powers- or
else. Soon, Ava and her friends are on a quest
of mythic proportions to uncover the truth about
the past and their futures