Sunday, January 12, 2025

Review - The House of My Mother

Title:  The House of My Mother 
Author Shari Franke
Publisher:  Gallery Books
Genre:   Memoir
Format:  Audiobook 
Length:  7 hr
Narrated by author
Date of Publication:   January 7, 2024
My Rating:   5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.

Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface—Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined.

As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime.

Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: “Finally.”

For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, “ConneXions.” No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.


MY THOUGHTS:

On October 16, 2024, Shari Franke addressed the Utah House of Representatives, advocating for children’s rights with family vlogging. Drawing from her personal experience as one of the six children featured on the YouTube channel 8 Passengers, Franke shared her harrowing journey of years-long abuse by her mother, Ruby Franke.

As a fan of some family vlogging channels, I approached this book with caution. Among the many families I follow, 8 Passengers never held a special place in my interest. However, it was only after Ruby Franke and her partner Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested, charged, and convicted of various counts of child abuse that I began to watch clips of their videos.

Reading and watching stories about this family was emotionally taxing. But it was the personal account of one of the children, a clear victim, that truly struck me. Granted, I didn’t read the book; instead, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Shari herself. This experience had a profound and lasting impact on me.

The children were subjected to brutal treatment, masquerading as “good parenting” and often influenced by religion, particularly when Ruby’s involvement seemed to align with a cult-like organization called ConneXions. Beyond the physical abuse, Shari endured other forms of trauma that were both tragic and heartbreaking.

The question of the children’s well-being is a matter of deep concern. While years of therapy hopefully will help them, triggers are bound to resurface harmful memories. I believe that with Shari’s strength and courage in writing and narrating this book, as well as her testimony advocating for other children in family channels, parents will be inspired to take proactive steps to protect their children from harm and unnecessary exposure.

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