# Bea and the New Deal Horse

**Author:** L. M. Elliott
**Grade range:** Grades 3–5
**Age range:** 8–11
**First published:** 2023
**Genre:** Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)
**ISBN-13:** `9780063219007`
**ISBN-10:** `006321900X`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/bea-and-the-new-deal-horse
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## 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.

## Themes

- courage
- family
- perseverance

## Where this book is assigned

### Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winners, via Wikipedia — 2024 Scott O'Dell Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_O%27Dell_Award_for_Historical_Fiction)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winners, via Wikipedia — 2024 Scott O'Dell Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_O%27Dell_Award_for_Historical_Fiction)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winners, via Wikipedia — 2024 Scott O'Dell Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_O%27Dell_Award_for_Historical_Fiction)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winners, via Wikipedia — 2024 Scott O'Dell Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_O%27Dell_Award_for_Historical_Fiction)

### Virginia Readers' Choice

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)](https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/english-reading-literacy/virginia-readers-choice)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)](https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/english-reading-literacy/virginia-readers-choice)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)](https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/english-reading-literacy/virginia-readers-choice)

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