Propriety and Possibilities: Writing in Adult Basic Education Programs invites us to journey to Newfoundland to explore ideas that will affect our attitude toward writing and writing instruction. Its blue-gray and sepia tinted background photograph of a fishing village and small individual photographs of participants' faces and hands, is as appealing as the title. The book is short, only 64 pages, but it is extremely well organized with writing samples, photographs, excerpts from Helen's notebook, suggestions from the workshops, a bibliography and a list of useful resources.

The book is divided into two chapters:

Chapter 1: The Writing Project provides background information about the closure of the cod fishery in 1992 and the subsequent programs that encouraged these workers to attend Adult Basic Education programs and train for new careers. It then discusses the philosophy behind the project, and some important guidelines that could be used for creating your own program.

One instructor pointed out that the first chapter is "an effective reminder that some of our students have a background of fear around language and its 'proper' use. I found it interesting that not only the learners, but some of the instructors and writers leading the workshops, had this shame instilled in them at an early age. How sad that...feeling shame at not being able to 'say it right' leads us to think that we have nothing to say at all." This chapter emphasizes the importance of writing as a way to preserve, share and show the value of personal culture, language and history. It shows how school can "provide (students) a place to engage in a variety of writing practices and to explore possibilities in their writing." It emphasizes the value of sharing your writing in groups and in published form.

Chapter 2: Getting Down to Writing has many excellent ideas for writing and working together to revise work. These include telling stories, using the writing process approach, sentence starters and getting and giving feedback. My favourites are the ideas on the sample page and I-Search Papers. Another instructor found Form Poetry and Work Poetry provided new ideas to use with her students.

This book is an excellent resource for instructors of literacy, upgrading and Adult Basic Education classes.