Bea and the New Deal Horse
by L. M. Elliott
Bea and the New Deal Horse by L. M. Elliott is assigned in US schools at grades 3–5. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Bea and the New Deal Horse is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Grade range
- Grades 3–5
- Age range
- Ages 8–11
- First published
- 2023
- Genre
- Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)
- ISBN-13
- 9780063219007
Where to find this book
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About this book
A lyrical historical novel set during the Great Depression: after losing her home, lonely Bea forges a deep bond with a difficult horse and learns resilience. L. M. Elliott's grades 3-5 novel won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and is a 2025-2026 Virginia Readers' Choice (Elementary) nominee.
Why widely assigned
This Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) title, typically at grades 3–5. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on courage and family; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
Where this book is assigned
Virginia Readers' Choice
- recommended·3rd grade · Virginiasource: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)
- recommended·4th grade · Virginiasource: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)
- recommended·5th grade · Virginiasource: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)
Similar grade-level books
Charlotte's WebE.B. White · 680L
MatildaRoald Dahl · 840L
The BFGRoald Dahl · 720L
Bridge to TerabithiaKatherine Paterson · 810L
See all books like Bea and the New Deal Horse→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Bea and the New Deal Horse?
- Bea and the New Deal Horse is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–5. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Bea and the New Deal Horse?
- Bea and the New Deal Horse appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Bea and the New Deal Horse banned in schools?
- Bea and the New Deal Horse does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Bea and the New Deal Horse explore?
- Central themes in Bea and the New Deal Horse include courage, family, perseverance. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 3–5 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.