Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths

by Raven Oak

Rules of Teaching:
Clone thyself
Learn teleportation. The sooner the better.
Trust no one.

These are the rules I learned as a middle school teacher, though it was the last one that drove me from the classroom forever. Like many educators, I couldn’t survive the politics. After thirteen years, I bailed. How did I, an abuse-surviving queer, end up teaching in the middle of the Bible Belt? Better yet, how did I survive?
New Rule of Life:
1. Neither my silence nor my identity is for sale at any price.

My former vice principal said it best (though I wasn’t supposed to see that email) when he asked, “Why does she always have to write a damn novel?”

So here I am. Writing a damn novel. As to the why…because I believe in changing the world, one word at a time.

Navigating discrimination, whether it’s from employers, medical professionals, colleagues, or family, is often fraught with uncertainty. Join Raven Oak on their journey of transition and self-discovery in a world built on silence.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, LGBT

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2024

About the author

Multi-international award-winning speculative fiction author Raven Oak (they/them) is best known for their epic fantasy Boahim Trilogy (Amaskan’s Blood, Amaskan’s War, & Amaskan’s Honor) and their space opera, Class-M Exile. Also, they have almost two dozen short stories published in various anthologies. They’re even published on the moon! Raven spent most of their K-12 education doodling and writing 500 page monstrosities that are forever locked away in a filing cabinet.

Besides being a writer, they’re a disabled, nonbinary artist who enjoys getting their game on with tabletop games, indulging in cartography and etymology, and staring at the ocean. They live in the Seattle area with their wife, and their three kitties who enjoy lounging across the keyboard when writing deadlines approach. Their hair color changes as often as their bio does, and you can find them at www.ravenoak.net.

Reviews

[Sarah (Wondermajica) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book for free. This review is done voluntarily.

Memoirs are not normally my thing, but something about Voices Carry called to me. Reading about everything Raven has achieved, survived, and struggled with made me feel like I was looking at a version of myself in another timeline. My dream was to be a teacher, and the fact that I never had the opportunity or the right timing to make that happen has always been a significant source of sadness in my life. I also deal with chronic pain and mental health issues.

As I read about the frustrations and difficulties Raven faced while teaching, it had a healing effect on me. I do not doubt that if things had been different and I had become a teacher, my path would have been very similar. However, I don’t think I would have lasted as long in the profession. I have never experienced a book, especially non-fiction, that felt more like it was put into the universe for me to discover. So many of the things I currently struggle with or have in the past have their own chapters in Voices Carry. From issues surrounding body image to accepting yourself (and even just figuring out who that is), it's all here.

Raven’s unsent letters to people made me feel so seen. I find myself doing this all the time as I hate confrontation with others. I have done this since I was a child but have always thought it was probably just another “weird” thing I do. One quote that particularly resonated with me was after Raven described an event with her father. Her words, "Once you go into hiding, you tend to stay there. It’s easier. It’s safer," hit me like a freight train.

Raven’s journey is a powerful exploration of resilience and self-acceptance. Her story is not just about her struggles but also about the universal quest for self-identity and voice. I highly recommend Voices Carry to anyone dealing with chronic pain, mental health struggles, or anyone who feels their dreams have been deferred. Raven’s story offers solace and inspiration.

I know this review is a bit messy. This book left me with so many emotions, and I don’t know how to put it all into words. The most basic way I can express it is that I think I really needed this book. Raven Oak mentioned that she wanted to write this book as a way to gain back her voice. In doing so, she is going to help many others find their way to do the same. After reading Voices Carry, I felt more at peace with my own journey's progress.

Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, and I won a copy via a Goodreads giveaway, as always my opinions are my own.

I always find hard to to rate and review a biography or memoir because it feels weird to rate review someone's life experience. I want to be careful to not give opinions on the person's life and choices, but more about the writing style, personal enjoyment, and if I learned anything from the book and if I got to know the person the book is about. I will attempt to do that here.

I previously read 2 of Oak's short story collections and really enjoyed them. When I saw that they were coming out with a memoir I was intrigued, as most authors use their life experiences in their writing. This doesn't hold back and really lets you into Oak's life. There are some tough parts to get through but the author puts appropriate trigger warnings in the book so as not to harm the reader, should you need to skip a section to protect yourself due to your own experienced trauma. The author has been through some things, between having a rough (understatement) childhood, quite a few medical issues, growing up during a time and place where anything but heterosexual identity was acceptable, and so many more things (go read the book). I feel like I really got to know the author.

I actually really enjoyed reading this. Oak pours their heart into this book when they talk about their time as a teacher and the trauma they experienced throughout their life. Despite all of their hardships, Oak has still become a successful writer and a survivor. I completely related to the struggles they experienced with getting a diagnoses when it comes to a medical condition no one can figure out and being passed from doctor to doctor until you find a competent one who cares and actually knows what they are doing. I think there is something everyone can relate to in this book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, powerful, heart changing book

I was unfamiliar with this author, Raven Oak, before I read this book. What a very talented author! I was so moved by this book I didn't even want to put it down. What a powerful example of learning to be a genuine individual. I like how the author admitted that it is sometimes a day to day, minute by minute work. I am a 61 year old grandmother, and I'm still working on doing that myself. Thank you for sharing your heart Raven Oak!

[✨ ੈ✩‧April ♡ ʚ♡⃛ɞ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
As an educator I truly appreciate this book! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
Raven Oak’s Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths is a compelling and introspective exploration of the challenges and triumphs encountered in the world of education and personal transformation. With a blend of personal narrative and broader reflections, this book offers valuable insights into the experiences that shape both educators and their students.

Oak’s writing is both engaging and reflective, providing readers with an intimate look into her experiences as a teacher navigating various transitions and truths. Her storytelling is rich with personal anecdotes that offer a window into the realities of the teaching profession, capturing both the rewards and the struggles of working in education.

One of the book’s strengths is its authenticity. Oak’s candid reflections on the highs and lows of her career bring a genuine depth to the narrative. Her ability to address the complexities of teaching, including the emotional and psychological impacts, allows readers to connect with her experiences on a personal level. This authenticity makes the book not only informative but also deeply relatable for those familiar with the educational field.

The structure of the book is well-organized, with each chapter offering insights into different aspects of Oak’s journey. The thematic focus on teaching, transitions, and truths is handled with nuance, providing readers with a thoughtful examination of the various forces at play in the life of an educator.

However, while the book is insightful and engaging, there are moments when the narrative could benefit from a bit more cohesion. Some sections may feel slightly disjointed, and the transitions between different themes or anecdotes can occasionally disrupt the flow of the narrative. Nonetheless, these moments do not significantly detract from the overall impact of the book.

Overall, Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths is a valuable and thought-provoking read that offers an honest portrayal of the teaching profession and personal growth. Raven Oak’s reflective and engaging writing style makes it a noteworthy contribution to literature on education and personal development. With its minor structural adjustments aside, the book earns a strong 4-star rating and is recommended for anyone interested in the dynamics of teaching and self-discovery.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this memoir, author Raven Oak shares her journey through an abusive childhood and adolescence to find themselves as an adult being able to properly identify through their gender, sexuality and other identities.  Their past helped to shape their career as a teacher in Texas, doing their best to serve youth in the Bible Belt.  A health diagnosis led Raven and their partner to a safer space in Seattle where they battled long COVID and a series of disabilities.  

Raven Oak is one of my favorite science fiction/fantasy authors, so I jumped on the chance to read their memoir.  Raven presents an honest look at a life with many bumps in the road as well as triumph through adversity.  Raven's writing pulled me in similarly to a fictional story and I was invested in their journey.  Raven writes about not only where they succeeded in life, but where they believe they failed, especially in the school system and with certain students.  I found myself identifying with Raven's story more often than not, even though we have had very different paths in life thus far. I identified most with Raven's time in schools, trying to help students to be their best while actively fighting administration and some parents every step of the way.  I also love to see the power of good documentation.   Raven's memoir is all about finding their voice and using it for the greater good.  Through Raven's life they share multiple instances of finding and redefining themselves and using their experiences to advocate for themselves and others. I took much of Raven's learned  wisdom in these experiences to be a better advocate.  I enjoyed seeing how Raven's experiences shaped some characters in their books.  Voices Carry is a story of  triumph as a person who has fought against evil, stereotypes, and outdated systems just to exist.  I'll wrap up with one of my favorite quotes that I'll be incorporating into everyday life, "If questioning others means I'm a threat, consider me armed and dangerous."

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Maia Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m familiar with Raven Oak as a speculative fiction writer—I’ve read Amaskan’s Blood and several of their short stories, all of them imaginative and expertly put together—but I didn’t know what to expect from their memoir Voices Carry. Only a few pages in, though, and I was like “Oh, right. Oak knows how to tell a darn good story, and this is going to be good.” Although “good” seems like not quite the right word, because as an unusually talented person who also happens to be neurodivergent, queer, and disabled—and who spent the first chapters of their life in Texas—Oak has been on a wild ride.

With a combination of vulnerability, forcefulness, and wit, Oak covers their complicated childhood, their career as a public school teacher in Texas, their ongoing battle with layered medical issues, and their journey of self-discovery as a person and a writer. A lot of this is heavy stuff. But somehow, I also laughed aloud several times? This isn’t a “fun” read, and yet it’s still propulsive reading. The propulsive quality comes, on one level, from the writing itself—it’s tight, and interesting, and it toggles between highly specific, visceral moments, to philosophy, then back again. I was also fascinated to read Oak’s insider view of what the heck is going on in “red state” classrooms, and the jaw-dropping bigotry and fat-phobia of the medical establishment. Voices Carry is a brave and engaging read. Highly recommended.

[Tabatha Shipley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Did Like:
+The voice comes across as natural and comfortable. This reads like the author sat down across from you and started talking. It’s captivating.
+As a former teacher myself I related to a lot of this content, sometimes painfully so. It’s nice to have a raw and honest book about being on the front lines of teaching. The entire book is not about teaching … but the entire book IS raw and honest.
+The unsent letters to people are such a great addition! I’ve often written letters to people that I never plan to send, in fact a few also ended up in my blog as the author mentioned as well. It’s just one example of relatable stuff in this book.

Who Should Read This One:
-Memoir fans. This one is well done and packed with things you’ll relate to. Plus, it has a great voice!

My Rating: 4 Stars
As memoirs go, this one is well done. It reads quickly, feels comfortable, and is packed with interesting information.

For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/07/...

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Countless times in reviews of memoirs I’ve said that one of the things I like about memoirs, at least those that are well done, is if the author is different than me in some way that it helps me to better understand people who are different. That might be different in experiences, in upbringing, gender, or many other things. This book delivered for me in this regard as there are numerous differences between Raven Oak and me. I haven’t had the struggles that she has had (yes, we could describe it as me having privilege, relative to her). I think me understanding those struggles she has gone through is helpful for me to understand others, but I also couldn’t help but notice that in spite of the differences that we’re not entirely different. I could relate to many of her thoughts and opinions, goals, etc. I suspect most people who gave this a read could both learn from and be inspired by it.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 One person's look back at their family of origin, professional and personal journey. I found the writing to be engaging and written in an authentic voice. Raven's experiences and how they dealt with abuse, going through high-school and the politics of teaching will bring back memories of how each of us dealt with and remember our own struggles dealing with these issues. Sometimes the writing came off a bit whiney. Sometimes very complex situations seemed simplified as if Raven's experience would have been better if the author had done A,B or C. Raven herself says many times throughout the book that it was a cathartic and healing journey. As memoirs go it was not bad . I received this ARC from Booksirens and am happy to leave this review.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving, and sometimes shocking look at the authors experiences with teaching. I had a lot of empathy for her, teaching young adults is a difficult job with way more politics and danger thrown in these days. Great read, and one that all parents should have a copy of, no matter their orientation! One line really stood out to me, “Doing the right thing isn’t easy. If it were easy, everyone would do it, right?” It is how I feel often and I try to do the right thing for the greater good- sometimes I miss the mark, and not beat myself up about it. Each day gives us a chance to do better. I had an ARC from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

[Kammie]

This book was amazing and I think every person in the education community should read as required reading. This book was silimar to the experiences I had working as a teacher assistant.   Mrs. Oak is a driven professional and inspiring for standing her by her beliefs and conviction need more people  like this in our nation, world and planet.  A  quote by Eleanor Roosevelt" HAVE CONVICTIONS,BE FRIENDLY. STICK TO YOUR BELIEFS AS THEY STICK TO THEIRS. WORK AS HARD AS THEY DO.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of shared experiences that I have with you is uncanny. I was also a middle school English teacher in the Bible belt, have an autoimmune disease, and the similarities continue. I kept reading along, and would have to stop to say, "Yes!" Of course, it was often said aloud.

Thank you so much for writing this book.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant, timely memoir about teaching under an oppressive, anti-LGBTQ+ administration. I was moved by the anecdotes about students, troublesome or otherwise, and the adults, who were usually worse than the kids. Great story, and super important even today.

[Donna Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven Oak is a superhero. This is such a brutally authentic memoir. As a teacher of Special Needs students I rode every page . Happy Pride