The article reviews David Barton and Mary Hamilton's book *Local Literacies: Reading and Writing in One Community*, which provides a detailed ethnographic study of literacy practices in the Springside neighborhood of Lancaster, England. The authors, through their six-year research, offer a rich and textured account that situates readers in the field site. The book's theoretical framework, influenced by sociolinguist James Gee, views literacy as a social practice rather than a set of skills learned through formal instruction. The study includes data gathering methods such as interviews, surveys, and observations, and it features four case studies of individuals from different backgrounds, each highlighting how literacy is used to make sense of their lives and achieve various goals. The book challenges traditional views of literacy by demonstrating its centrality in everyday life and its role in social practices, including leisure, sense-making, and social participation. It also explores the relationship between literacy and gender, numeracy, and multilingualism, emphasizing the importance of literacy in both formal and informal contexts. The authors conclude by advocating for a broader and more inclusive understanding of literacy, one that recognizes its practical and everyday significance.The article reviews David Barton and Mary Hamilton's book *Local Literacies: Reading and Writing in One Community*, which provides a detailed ethnographic study of literacy practices in the Springside neighborhood of Lancaster, England. The authors, through their six-year research, offer a rich and textured account that situates readers in the field site. The book's theoretical framework, influenced by sociolinguist James Gee, views literacy as a social practice rather than a set of skills learned through formal instruction. The study includes data gathering methods such as interviews, surveys, and observations, and it features four case studies of individuals from different backgrounds, each highlighting how literacy is used to make sense of their lives and achieve various goals. The book challenges traditional views of literacy by demonstrating its centrality in everyday life and its role in social practices, including leisure, sense-making, and social participation. It also explores the relationship between literacy and gender, numeracy, and multilingualism, emphasizing the importance of literacy in both formal and informal contexts. The authors conclude by advocating for a broader and more inclusive understanding of literacy, one that recognizes its practical and everyday significance.