The House of My MotherThe House of My Mother
What it's about
Shari Franke grew up as the eldest daughter on 8 Passengers, a YouTube channel that showed her family's life to millions of subscribers. Behind the cameras, her mother, Ruby Franke, ran the home with harsh rules and punishments, and grew more extreme after falling under the influence of a self-styled life coach. In 2023, Shari's younger brother escaped to a neighbor's house, starved and bound, and both women were arrested. Shari tells the story of her childhood, the case, and what came after.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for memoir, was a #1 New York Times bestseller and spent months on the lists. It's a gripping account of a case that made headlines, and an indictment of family vlogging.
You'll love it if you liked
Educated: A Memoir
How to Say Babylon: A Memoir
The Glass CastleGood to know
It describes child abuse in detail. It's also a story about faith, family and learning to trust yourself.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller68 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz46 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #65 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #57 of the 481 new books we rank
- #320 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Moving
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Quick answers
Is The House of My Mother worth reading?
Yes. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for memoir, was a #1 New York Times bestseller and spent months on the lists. It ranks #320 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 81.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The House of My Mother about?
Shari Franke grew up as the eldest daughter on 8 Passengers, a YouTube channel that showed her family's life to millions of subscribers. Behind the cameras, her mother, Ruby Franke, ran the home with harsh rules and punishments, and grew more extreme after falling under the influence of a self-styled life coach. In 2023, Shari's younger brother escaped to a neighbor's house, starved and bound, and both women were arrested. Shari tells the story of her childhood, the case, and what came after.
How long does it take to read The House of My Mother?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The House of My Mother won?
Goodreads Choice (memoir autobiography) winner (2025).
What should I read after The House of My Mother?
If you liked it, try Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover, How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair or The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.