Review: The House of My Mother
- tatedecaro
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
3/5 stars
TW: Child abuse (physical, emotional & psychological), sexual assault (adult/minor relationship), toxic relationships, religious trauma, cult-like authoritarianism.
If you don't know, Shari Franke is the eldest daughter of Ruby Franke, former mommy-vlogger turned cult-like Mormon child abuser. Ruby ran a popular YouTube channel called "8 Passengers," referring to herself, her husband Kevin, and their 6 children, from about 2015-2022, where she documented their family life. By 2022, she had become increasingly radicalized by fellow LDS member Jodi Hildebrandt, who founded a "relationship and business counseling business" called ConneXions, and specialized in "psychiatric and psychological treatment of pornography and sex addiction." In 2023, they were both arrested for aggravated child abuse of Ruby's two youngest children.
So, that's the basic background info, and if you're interested in learning more, there are multiple documentaries about Ruby & Jodi: Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, and Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin & Influence.
Shari chronicles her life as a young child, and the family's descent into the world of vlogging, including the fact that she had her own YouTube channel, which I hadn't known. She talks about her mother's peculiar parenting beliefs that children do not deserve unconditional love - not even babies - and the ways she and her siblings were embarrassed, humiliated, and used for online content. There's a lot in the book that you'll already know if you've followed the case, but there is also a lot of more personal information about Shari's life in particular, including sexual and psychological abuse from someone outside of the family (but within the LDS church).
It's incredibly commendable how honest and open Shari is about her journey, while also being careful to protect her siblings' privacy. Her brother Chad, the second oldest, is the only one mentioned by name because he is no longer a minor, and he has been publicly vocal about the abuse he suffered. She also talks about her father, Kevin - the disappointment and anger she felt towards him for not standing up for the children earlier, but also the continued work they are doing to mend the relationship.
At the end of the day, Shari seems wise beyond her years (23 years old), and working hard to confront her demons in a productive way. It was a bit discouraging to learn that she is still very involved in the LDS church, but I also imagine that with all the turmoil and change she has experienced, having her faith to fall back on is a comfort. And she's still so young. I'd be interested to hear from her again in 10 years - Is she still a Mormon? Is she able to recognize the role that the church played in allowing, if not encouraging, her mother's behavior? Time will tell!
UP NEXT: The Last Heir to Blackwood Library, by Hester Fox
