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.
Review by Twinsie Angie
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I purchased this audiobook.
Like most people I heard about this story on TikTok and many of my true crime podcasts. I was destroyed by the story of the younger siblings and what happened to them. I also was heartbroken for Shari and her brother Chad who dealt with different trauma at the hands of their mother. I never knew what all Shari went through and was so glad I read this story.
Shari’s story was everything I expected it to be. We heard of all her mom’s narcissism and emotional abuse. But hearing all the things she went through at the hands of her mom and what happened to her after her mom’s brainwashing was horrible. I felt so sad for her and all the self-doubt her mom’s abuse caused which caused further abuse at the hands of other people.
I was so proud of her recognizing the abuse of her mom and refusing to follow that path by not reliving any of her siblings abuse. As she reminds us through the book she will not profit on their abuse since it is their story. If they want to tell the horrific happenings in the future, then that is their right. She will not exploit them like Ruby.
I am not sure if she recognized the damage that the church caused her when everything shakes out. SO I do wish that was addressed but honestly I am so happy with her and where she is now.
I also was so happy to hear she has a great built in support system with people who she loves and value. She built amazing and safe relationships with people who have supported her through all the bad and now in the good times.
- 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.