Complete Book List for 2025-2026

We’re happy to announce the official SALT reading list for the 2025-2026 school year. The 3rd-4th Grade Division will again read 12 books and the 5th-6th Grade Division will read 16 books. You can find book details and summaries here. Each division’s complete list is shown below:

3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION:

  • Beneath the Swirling Sky (The Restorationists) by Carolyn Leiloglou
  • Book of Luke NIV Bible
  • Draven’s Defiance (Passages) by Paul McCusker
  • Frindle by Andrew Clements
  • I Survived the Great Alaskan Earthquake, 1964 by Lauren Tarshis
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker
  • Poppy by Avi
  • The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
  • The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
  • The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (The Great Illustrated Classics edition only: ISBN 9781603400329 – paperback, 1591971969 – hardcover) by Howard Pyle
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
  • The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION:

  • Beneath the Swirling Sky (The Restorationists) by Carolyn Leiloglou
  • Book of Luke NIV Bible
  • Draven’s Defiance (Passages) by Paul McCusker
  • Frindle by Andrew Clements
  • I Survived the Great Alaskan Earthquake, 1964 by Lauren Tarshis
  • Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
  • Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) by Janet & Geoff Benge
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker
  • Poppy by Avi
  • The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud (The Amazing Tales of Max & Liz) by Jenny Cote
  • The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
  • The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
  • The Future Door (No Place Like Holmes) by Jason Lethcoe
  • The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (The Great Illustrated Classics edition only: ISBN 9781603400329 – paperback, 1591971969 – hardcover) by Howard Pyle
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
  • The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney

2025 Tournament in Pictures

Students from Our Savior’s Christian, Salem Academy, Santiam Christian, Western Christian, and Willamette Valley Christian came together on April 11, 2025 to compete for the 3rd-4th and 5th-6th grade division titles of the all-school SALT Tournament, hosted by Salem Academy. Congratulations to all of the participants for another fantastic year filled with exciting skirmishes and memories.

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2025 Tournament Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 SALT tournament. Well done!

3rd & 4th Grade Champions

Santiam Christian, Book Wyrms (Logan, William, Irene, Ellie, Audrey)

5th & 6th Grade Champions

Salem Academy, The Continental Cat Congress (Sigrid, Jason, David, and Finn)

Duman Award Winner: Reagan Ramirez

Congratulations to Reagan Ramirez, our 2025 Duman Award winner from Santiam Christian!

We ask for coaches from each school to nominate one student who shines their light brightly for Jesus by always showing kindness, encouragement, and good leadership skills. This year’s Duman Award winner, Reagan, stood out among the nominees. This is what Reagan’s coach had to say…

“I am honored to nominate Reagan Ramirez for the 2025 Duman Award, as she truly embodies the qualities it represents. A quiet yet powerful leader, she consistently shines her light for Jesus through her kindness, encouragement, and unwavering support for others. She is the first to recognize the strengths and value in her peers, always uplifting and inspiring those around her. With a heart full of selflessness and determination, she approaches SALT and every challenge she faces with grit and a willingness to work hard, not for personal recognition, but for the success of those around her. Whether through her dedication to preparation, eagerness to collaborate, or steady encouragement, Reagan is a shining example of what it means to lead with faith, humility, and love.”

The Duman Award was established as a way to honor our beloved teacher Trisha Duman who passed away in 2018. She loved being part of SALT, and her passing left us with a forever hole in our hearts. This is an award we give to honor her memory. Trisha had many amazing characteristics, but she was best known for her kindness.

Partial Book List for 2025-2026

We’re excited to announce the first 8 books on our 2025-2026 reading list:

  • Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou
  • Book of Luke NIV Bible
  • Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose by Janet & Geoff Benge
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker
  • Poppy by Avi
  • The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
  • The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
  • The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney

You can find details about the first 8 books here on the website. Watch for the remaining books to be announced this Fall. The eighth season of SALT will be here before we know it. Happy reading!

Reader’s Guide Stocks SALT Books

The Reader’s Guide, a new and used bookstore in West Salem, stocks several SALT titles for purchase. Reader’s Guide is located at 735 Edgewater Street NW. Please support this wonderful community resource. You can find more information on their Facebook page here.

2025 SALT Tournament Date

We’re excited to announce that the 2025 Salem Area Literature Tournament will be held at Salem Academy on Friday, April 11, 2025. Get details about the SALT tournament here. Remember to check the SALT website throughout the year for other important announcements and resource updates.

Complete Book List for 2024-2025

We’re happy to announce the official SALT reading list for the 2024-2025 school year. Brief book details can be found here on the website. The 3rd-4th Grade Division will read 12 books and the 5th-6th Grade Division will read 16 books. Please see each division’s complete list below:

3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION:

  • Book of Ruth NIV Bible
  • Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
  • Glennall’s Betrayal by Paul McCusker
  • Hook’s Revenge: The Pirate Code by Heidi Schulz
  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  • Rules by Cynthia Lord
  • Slacker by Gordon Korman
  • Tales from the Odyssey: Part 1 by Mary Pope Osborn
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
  • The Wind in the Willows (Great Illustrated Classics edition only: ISBN 0866119906) by Kenneth Grahame
  • The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
  • When Mischief Came to Town by Katrina Nannestad

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION:

  • Book of Ruth NIV Bible
  • Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure by Samantha Seiple
  • Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
  • Glennall’s Betrayal by Paul McCusker
  • Hook’s Revenge: The Pirate Code by Heidi Schulz
  • How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  • Rules by Cynthia Lord
  • Slacker by Gordon Korman
  • Tales from the Odyssey: Part 1 by Mary Pope Osborn
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
  • The Rembrandt Conspiracy by Deron Hicks
  • The Wind in the Willows (Great Illustrated Classics edition only: ISBN 0866119906) by Kenneth Grahame
  • The Wingfeather Saga: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
  • The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
  • When Mischief Came to Town by Katrina Nannestad

2024 Tournament in Pictures

Salem Academy hosted the all-school SALT tournament was on April 13, 2024. Students from Santiam Christian, Willamette Valley Christian, Western Christian, Our Savior’s Christian, and Salem Academy arrived to compete for the 3rd-4th and 5th-6th grade division titles. The students competed in an amazing way, giving it their all. Congratulations to all of the participants for another fantastic year filled with exciting skirmishes and memories.

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2024 Tournament Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 SALT tournament. Well done!

3rd & 4th Grade Champions

Salem Academy, SA Salties (Avalon, Ruby Rose, Sigrid, Jason, Nelson, Coach Karie Hutchings)

5th & 6th Grade Champions

Santiam Christian, THEE Reading Rockstars (Lydia, Heidi, Emma, Andrew, Coach Geron Haan)

Duman Award Winner: Haddie Jones

Congratulations to our 2024 Duman Award winner, Haddie Jones from Santiam Christian!

One of our SALT tournament traditions is presenting a student with what we call “The Duman Award.” The Duman Award is named after one of our original SALT staff members, who was known for her kindness. Trisha Duman loved being part of SALT, and her passing left us with a forever hole in our hearts. This is an award we give to honor her memory. We ask for the coaches from each school to nominate one student who shines their light brightly for Jesus by always showing kindness, encouragement, and good leadership skills. This year’s Duman Award winner, Haddie Jones, stood out among the nominees. This is what Haddie’s coaches had to say…

“Haddie personifies joy and is frequently among the first to help and mentor other classmates. She does a great job of making everyone feel included. When a classmate was away from school for a prolonged time because of an injury, Haddie found out that the injured student had been reading SALT books in hopes of being on a SALT team. Haddie welcomed her with open arms and encouragement, and even advocated for virtual meetings with the injured student so that she could be part of the team. Haddie has a servant’s heart and loves others with her words and actions.”

Partial Book List for 2024-2025

Season seven of SALT is getting a head start. Here are the first 8 books on our 2024-2025 reading list that all divisions will read:

  • Book of Ruth NIV Bible
  • Glennall’s Betrayal by Paul McCusker
  • Hook’s Revenge: The Pirate Code by Heidi Schulz
  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  • Rules by Cynthia Lord
  • Tales from the Odyssey: Part 1 by Mary Pope Osborn
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
  • When Mischief Came to Town by Katrina Nannestad

You can find details about the first 8 books here on the website. Watch for the remaining books to be announced this Fall.

Book List for 2023-2024

We’re pleased to announce the official reading list for 2023-2024. Brief details for each of the 20 books for this sixth season of SALT can be found here on the website. The 3rd-4th Grade Division will read 12 books and the 5th-6th Grade Division will read 16 books. Please see each division’s complete list below:

3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION

  • A Whale of the Wild by Rosanne Parry
  • Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (The Great Illustrated Classics edition only: ISBN 9781603400206)
  • Book of Mark NIV Bible (Chapters 1-16)
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
  • Escape to the Hiding Place (The Imagination Station) by Marianne Hering & Marshal Younger
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
  • Grand Teton Stampede (The Campground Kids) by C.R. Fulton
  • Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka
  • Lucky Strike by Bobbie Pyron
  • The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (Brixton Brothers) by Mac Barnett
  • The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson
  • The Magician’s Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION

  • A Whale of the Wild by Rosanne Parry
  • Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (This edition only: ISBN 9781603400206)
  • Book of Mark NIV Bible (Chapters 1-16)
  • Britfield & the Return of the Prince by C.R. Stewart
  • Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels’ Den by Janet & Geoff Benge
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
  • Escape to the Hiding Place (The Imagination Station) by Marianne Hering & Marshal Younger
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
  • Fog Magic by Julia Sauer
  • Grand Teton Stampede (The Campground Kids) by C.R. Fulton
  • Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka
  • Lucky Strike by Bobbie Pyron
  • The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (Brixton Brothers) by Mac Barnett
  • The Diamond of Darkhold (The City of Ember) by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson
  • The Magician’s Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis

Partial Book List for 2023-2024

Our sixth season of SALT is just around the corner. Here are the first 8 books on our 2023-2024 reading list:

3RD-4TH & 5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISIONS

  • Book of Mark NIV Bible (Chapters 1-16)
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
  • The Campground Kids: Grand Teton Stampede by C.R. Fulton
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
  • The Imagination Station: Escape to the Hiding Place by Marianne Hering & Marshal Younger

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Britfield and the Return of the Prince by C.R. Stewart
  • Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels’ Den by Janet & Geoff Benge

These first 8 books are listed with details here on the website. Watch for the remaining books to be announced this Fall. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

2023 Junior High Tournament in Pictures

SALT’s junior high tournament was hosted by Salem Academy on May 13, 2023. Students from Santiam Christian, Willamette Valley Christian, and Salem Academy came together to compete for the 7th-8th grade division crown. The students put forth their best efforts for a fantastic competition. Congratulations to all of the participants for a wonderful year of spirited skirmishes and memories made.

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2023 Elementary Tournament in Pictures

Salem Academy hosted the SALT elementary tournament on May 5, 2023. Students from Western Christian, Santiam Christian, Willamette Valley Christian, and Salem Academy came together for a day of competition and team camaraderie. Every student, from 3rd to 6th grade, put forth their best efforts for a fun and memorable competition.

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2023 Elementary Tournament Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 SALT elementary tournament. Well done!

3rd & 4th Grade Champions

Santiam Christian, THEE Reading Rockstars (Emma, Andrew, Heidi, Lydia)

5th & 6th Grade Champions

Salem Academy, Team Gary (Cooper, Piper, Ava, Alexis)

Duman Award Winner: Gracie

Congratulations to our 2023 Duman Award winner, Gracie from Willamette Valley Christian School!

Each year we ask SALT coaches from participating schools to nominate one student they feel is a behind-the-scenes hero and shows extraordinary kindness to their teammates. This year’s Duman Award winner stood out among the nominees. Here is what Gracie’s coach had to say about her…

“Since the beginning of the school year, Gracie has always been a reader. When I was introducing SALT to our 3rd Grade class, she was one of the first to sign up. Gracie has enthusiastically read nearly all of the SALT books for this year. Her enthusiasm has encouraged others to read more in order to keep up with her. This is just one of the ways that Gracie shows leadership in her quiet, humble manner.”

The Duman Award was established as a way to honor our beloved teacher Trisha Duman who passed away in 2018. Trisha was a huge supporter of SALT and served on our board. She was definitely one of the behind-the-scenes heroes for us as we were getting the program up and running. Trisha had many amazing characteristics, but she was best known for her kindness.

Practice Skirmish Questions Are Available

Practice skirmish questions have been posted! Coaches can find the practice questions on our Resources page. Viewing, downloading, and printing these PDFs requires your access password. Please remember that password access and practice questions are for COACH USE ONLY. If you have forgotten your access password, please email Jeneé Orso and it will be sent to you as soon as possible. The all-school tournament on Friday, May 5, 2023, is almost here. Keep practicing!

Book List for 2022-2023

We are excited to announce the official reading list for 2022-2023. Brief details for each of the 20 books can be found here on the website. 3rd-4th Grade Division will read 12 of the books, 5th-6th will read 16, and 7th-8th will read 8 books. Please see each division’s complete list below:

3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION

  • A Wolf Named Wander Rosanne Parry
  • Book of Genesis NIV Bible (Chapters 1-25)
  • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
  • Long Road to Freedom (Ranger in Time) by Kate Messner
  • Mission Unstoppable (The Genius Files) by Dan Gutman
  • Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
  • Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
  • The BFG by Roald Dahl
  • The Horse and His Boy (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis
  • The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
  • The Vanishings (Left Behind: The Kids) by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye
  • The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION

  • A Wolf Named Wander Rosanne Parry
  • Book of Genesis NIV Bible (Chapters 1-25)
  • Britfield and the Rise of the Lion by C.R. Stewart
  • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
  • Long Road to Freedom (Ranger in Time) by Kate Messner
  • Mission Unstoppable (The Genius Files) by Dan Gutman
  • Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
  • Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
  • Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet
  • The BFG by Roald Dahl
  • The Horse and His Boy (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis
  • The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
  • The Prophet of Yonwood (The City of Ember) by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Vanishings (Left Behind: The Kids) by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye
  • The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown
  • Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Book of Genesis NIV Bible (Chapters 1-25)
  • George Washington, Spymaster by Thomas B. Allen
  • Holes by Louis Sacher
  • Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet
  • The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
  • The Horse and His Boy (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • The Prophet of Yonwood (The City of Ember) by Jeanne DuPrau

Partial Book List for 2022-2023

Our fifth season of SALT is quickly approaching. Here are the first 10 books on our 2022-2023 reading list:

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Book of Genesis NIV Bible (Chapters 1-25)
  • The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
  • The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

3RD-4TH & 5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISIONS

  • A Wolf Named Wander Rosanne Parry
  • Book of Genesis NIV Bible (Chapters 1-25)
  • Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
  • Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
  • The BFG by Roald Dahl
  • The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
  • The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown
  • Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

These first 10 books are listed with details here on the website. Watch for the remaining books to be announced in October. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Duman Award Winner: Annabelle Bradley

Congratulations to our 2022 Duman Award winner, Annabelle Bradley from Western Christian School!

Each year we ask SALT coaches from participating schools to nominate one student they feel is a behind-the-scenes hero and shows extraordinary kindness to their teammates. This year’s Duman Award winner stood out among the nominees. Here is what Annabelle’s coach had to say about her…

“Throughout the year Annabelle has shown great perseverance, creativity, and a good attitude. She has demonstrated what it looks like to be a contributing member of a team by her diligence in handling the content of the books she was responsible to read. Her quality work has been an excellent example for the rest of her team and inspiring for other members of the SALT teams. She has answered more questions from the book of James than any other student at our school. Along with her gentle, quiet spirit, Annabelle’s character has been noteworthy and honoring to the Lord.”

The Duman Award was established as a way to honor our beloved teacher Trisha Duman who passed away in 2018. Trisha was a huge supporter of SALT and served on our board. She was definitely one of the behind-the-scenes heroes for us as we were getting the program up and running. Trisha had many amazing characteristics, but she was best known for her kindness.

2022 Tournament Winners

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2022 SALT tournament!

3rd & 4th Grade Champions

Salem Academy Mermaids (Angelo, Lyllian, Mrs. Vaubel, and Shane — Piper not pictured)

5th & 6th Grade Champions

Salem Academy Fantastic 4 (Noah, Cooper, Isabella, and Kennedy)

7th & 8th Grade Champions

Salem Academy Saltines (Carter, Stella, Emily, Kaely, and Madi)

Last Book Added for 7th-8th Grade

We have added Chasing Lincoln’s Killer as the last book for the 7th-8th Grade division. It is a fast-paced non-fiction thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia. Please see the updated 7th-8th Grade division list below:

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (This edition only: ISBN 978-0-141-32107-3)
  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
  • The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World by Henry Clark

Book Change for 7th-8th Grade Division

Due to supply issues, it has come to our attention that one of our selected books for Junior High is no longer available to purchase. We have replaced The Winter Letter with The Letter for the King instead. We apologize for this last-minute change. Please see the updated 7th-8th Grade division list below:

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (This edition only: ISBN 978-0-141-32107-3)
  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson¹
  • The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World by Henry Clark

¹(UPDATED 10/19/2021) Chasing Lincoln’s Killer has been added as the final book for the 7th-8th Grade division.

Book List for 2021-2022

We are excited to announce the official reading list of 20 books² for 2021-2022. Brief details for each book can be found here on the website. 3rd-4th Grade Division will read 12 of the books, 5th-6th will read 16, and 7th-8th will read 8 books. Please see each division’s complete list below:

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (This edition only: ISBN 978-0-141-32107-3)
  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson²
  • The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt¹
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World by Henry Clark

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (This edition only: ISBN 978-0-141-32107-3)
  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • Britfield and the Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart
  • Fish In A Tree by Mullaly Hunt
  • Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry
  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
  • Really Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
  • Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
  • The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
  • The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
  • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
  • The Winter War by Priscilla Shirer
  • What Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition? by Judith St. George

3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • Fish In A Tree by Mullaly Hunt
  • Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry
  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
  • Really Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
  • Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
  • The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
  • The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
  • The Winter War by Priscilla Shirer
  • What Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition? by Judith St. George

¹(UPDATED 10/4/2021) The Letter for the King has replaced The Winter Letter due to the current unavailability to purchase. We apologize for this last-minute change.

²(UPDATED 10/19/2021) Chasing Lincoln’s Killer has been added as the final book for the 7th-8th Grade Division.

Partial Book List for 2021-2022

Our fourth season of SALT is about to begin. Here are the first eight books on our 2021-2022 reading list:

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (This edition only: ISBN 978-0-141-32107-3)
  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (This edition only: ISBN 978-0-141-32107-3)
  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • Really Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
  • The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • The Winter War by Priscilla Shirer
  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
  • What Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition? by Judith St. George

3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Book of James NIV Bible
  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
  • Really Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • The Winter War by Priscilla Shirer
  • What Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition? by Judith St. George

These first eight books are listed with details here on the website. Watch for the remaining books to be announced in September. Enjoy some great summer reading!

Practice Questions Now Available

Practice skirmish questions have been posted for all divisions! Coaches can find the practice questions on our Resources page. Viewing, downloading, and printing these PDFs require your access password. Please remember that password access and practice questions are for COACH USE ONLY. If you have forgotten your access password, please email Jeneé Orso and it will be sent to you as soon as possible.

We are looking forward to our virtual tournament on Friday, April 30, 2021! Please watch the website for announcements and tournament details as we get closer to the event!

Final Book List for 2020-2021

We are happy to announce the official reading list of 15 books for 2020-2021. Brief details for each book can be found here on the website. 3rd-4th Grade Division will read 9 of the books, 5th-6th will read 12, and 7th-8th will read 6 books. Please see each division’s complete list below:

3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Another Quest for Celeste by Henry Cole
  • Book of Acts NIV Bible (Chapters 1-14)
  • Book Scavenger: The Unbreakable Code by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
  • I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 by Lauren Tarshis
  • The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
  • The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema by Priscilla Shirer
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
  • Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
  • Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Another Quest for Celeste by Henry Cole
  • Book of Acts NIV Bible (Chapters 1-14)
  • Book Scavenger: The Unbreakable Code by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
  • I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 by Lauren Tarshis
  • Rascal by Sterling North
  • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies 
  • The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema by Priscilla Shirer
  • The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
  • Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
  • Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • Book of Acts NIV Bible (Chapters 1-28)
  • Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold by Janet & Geoff Benge
  • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
  • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
  • York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby

Welcome Back to a Crazy School Year

There is some good news for you in all this craziness. We are planning to move ahead with SALT for the 2020-2021 school year!

We have made the decision to shorten the reading lists by 25% since we might not be back on our campuses full time until at least November. We have been working to shorten the reading list and we will have that posted for you soon.

We will be extending grace on timelines to register your schools since getting your teams up and running might take some extra time.

We aren’t sure exactly what the tournament will look like on April 30th, 2021, but we are committed to making something happen if possible. It might even be a virtual tournament, but we will see what the guidelines look like closer to the spring before we make any major decisions.

Please contact us with any questions you might have. We are here to help figure out how to facilitate this and keep the momentum rolling for our kids!

Partial Book List for 2020-2021

We are ready to jump into our third season of SALT. As we welcome 7th and 8th graders to the club, here are the first nine books on our 2020-2021 reading list:

ALL GRADE DIVISIONS

  • Book of Acts NIV Bible (3rd-6th: chapters 1-14, 7th-8th: chapters 1-28)
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

3RD-4TH & 5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISIONS

  • Another Quest for Celeste by Henry Cole
  • The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
  • The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema by Priscilla Shirer
  • The Unbreakable Code by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
  • Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

5TH-6TH & 7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISIONS

  • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

7TH-8TH GRADE DIVISION

  • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

These first nine books are listed with details here on the website. We hope you enjoy some great summer reading. Watch for the remaining nine books to be announced in August.

Junior High Added for 2020-2021

We’re happy to announce the addition of junior high students to our SALT program! We are excited to get this up and rolling for the coming 2020-2021 school year. The junior high team will function the same as an elementary team but will have a shorter book list. Our hope here is that the 7th-8th Grade Division teams will be able to dive into more content-heavy books at this level. Please spread the word!

2020 SALT Tournament Postponed

The second annual Salem Area Literature Tournament, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2020, has been POSTPONED due to Governor Kate Brown’s executive order regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The order prohibits large gatherings and places restrictions on social distancing over the next four weeks. You can find more details about the mandate here. The SALT Board of Directors will review options for resuming the tournament at a later date. We will send email notifications to coaches, and update the website, as new information becomes available.

Final Book List for 2019-2020

We are so excited to get started for the school year! The official reading list for 2019-2020 is here:

  • Absolutely Truly Heather Vogel Frederick
  • Book of Nehemiah NIV Bible
  • Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
  • Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
  • Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers
  • Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
  • Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
  • Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan
  • The Prince Warriors and the Unseen Invasion by Priscilla Shirer
  • The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks
  • What Was the Underground Railroad? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio
  • Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes (5th-6th Grade Division Only)
  • Quinny & Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen (5th-6th Grade Division Only)
  • Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton (5th-6th Grade Division Only)
  • The Twenty-One Balloons by William Péne du Bois (5th-6th Grade Division Only)

Brief details for each book can be found here on the website.

Please remember that we have a mandatory coaches meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2019. Join us at 4:00 pm in the Salem Academy Elementary Library. If you are unable to attend, please contact us so we can make alternate plans to get you the current information you will need for starting up your SALT program this fall. 

Partial Book List for 2019-2020

We are so excited to jump into our second season of SALT. Here are the first eight books on our 2019-2020 reading list:

  • Book of Nehemiah NIV Bible
  • Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio
  • The Prince Warriors and the Unseen Invasion by Priscilla Shirer
  • Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
  • What Was the Underground Railroad? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
  • Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
  • Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes (5th-6th Grade Division Only)

The first eight books we’ll be diving into are listed with details here on the website. Thank you for your suggestions and we hope you enjoy some great summer reading. Watch for the remaining eight books to be announced in August.

2020 SALT Tournament Date

We’re excited to announce that the second annual Salem Area Literature Tournament will be held at Salem Academy on Saturday, April 4, 2020. Our website’s tournament clock has been set so you can enjoy the anticipation! Get details about the SALT tournament here. Please remember to check the website throughout the summer for other important information and dates you will want to mark on your calendars.

Duman Award Winner: Owen Lizama

We would like to congratulate Owen Lizama from Sonshine Christian School as our first recipient of the Duman Award.

We asked SALT coaches from participating schools to nominate one student that they felt was a behind-the-scenes hero and showed extraordinary kindness to their teammates. Owen stood out. Here is what his coach had to say about him…

“He always has the biggest smile on his face and is always encouraging to not just his teammates but to everyone around him. He is everyone’s friend! I’m very proud of how he has kept up our group’s morale and kept the teams’ eyes focused on what is important which is always doing our best and doing it for the Lord!”

The Duman Award was established as a way to honor our beloved teacher Trisha Duman who passed away this last December. Trisha was a huge supporter of SALT and served on our board. She was definitely one of the behind-the-scenes heroes for us as we were getting the program up and running. Trisha had many amazing characteristics, but she was best known for her kindness.

2019 Tournament Championship Round Videos

See the 2019 SALT tournament championship rounds as they unfolded on April 6, 2019. Watch Salem Academy and The Sharks compete for the 3rd & 4th Grade Division championship and Riviera and Salem Academy battle it out for the 5th & 6th Grade Division championship.

A Wonderful First Year

Thank you, parents and coaches, for allowing your kids to participate in SALT this year. It was a wonderful first year! I am so proud of the kids and how hard they worked. 

We will post a partial SALT reading list for 2019-2020 in the early summer so please be watching for that if your kids want to get a jump on reading the books for next year. We will have the complete list of 2019-2020 SALT books posted to the website in late summer.

Thank you again for all of your support this year!

—Jeneé Orso, Director

2019 Tournament in Pictures

Salem Academy hosted the first annual SALT tournament on April 6, 2019. Over 50 students from Salem area schools came together for a day of competition and team camaraderie. Students from 3rd to 6th grade put forth their best efforts for a fun and memorable competition.

2019 Tournament Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our first-ever SALT tournament!

3rd & 4th Grade Champions

The Sharks (Ellie, Mason, Baron, and Chloe).

5th & 6th Grade Champions

Salem Academy SALT Stars (Madilyn, Emily, Stella, and Kaely)

Tournament Preparations

April is right around the corner and we are in full swing with our tournament preparations! We are looking forward to seeing you all there! 

If you haven’t already done so, please submit the names of your SALT kids so we can make sure the spellings are correct for the tournament roster. Those can be emailed to jorso@saltvault.org. 

Also, please remember to bring a full set of 16 SALT books with you to the April 6, 2019 tournament. These will be used for team challenges that are allowed at the end of each round. Please make sure the books are placed in a closed box or bag so competitors cannot see them during a skirmish. The sets of books will be placed next to the team coaches during competition.

Author Pronunciations

Please remember that the teams need to memorize and pronounce author names correctly during competitions. A great site for learning those more difficult pronunciations is TeachingBooks.net and their Author Name Pronunciation Guide. This audio guide is really helpful. There are other sites out there with similar resources so this one is only a suggestion.

Salem Academy Competition

Salem Academy is hosting an in-house SALT School Competition on Friday, March 1, 2019. The competition begins at 2:15 pm in the elementary gym. Coaches are welcome to bring their teams to watch. It will be a great opportunity to see a skirmish in action and see some of the details you may not have encountered with your club yet.

Mini Skirmishes start in January

Mini Skirmishes (battles) will start in January when students return from Christmas break. Mini Skirmishes will be held during regularly scheduled club times for your school. This is a great time to practice and sharpen skills for your own school competition in February, and the tournament on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Salem Academy is planning a school competition for February. A specific date will be announced as soon as possible so that you can make plans to attend and get an inside glimpse of what the tournament in April will look like.

Show off your club

Send us a picture of your club and tell us about your school and what your students are enjoying about SALT so far this year. You can upload your text and photo using the form located on the School Club page. All participating schools will be displayed so everyone can get to know each other.

Welcome to SALT!

Thank you for participating in SALT this year! We are already receiving a lot of positive feedback and are excited to see what the Lord has in store through this program this year. We trust that you and your students will be greatly blessed by joining the SALT community!