Rise

How a House Built a Family

By: Cara Brookins

Narrated by: Cara Brookins

"Brookins deftly narrates the extreme learning curve the family experienced during the construction process, while putting a family back together again." - Publishers Weekly

If you were inspired by Wild and Eat, Pray, Love, you’ll love this extraordinary true story of a woman taking the greatest risk of her life in order to heal from the unthinkable.

After escaping an abusive marriage, Cara Brookins had four children to provide for and no one to turn to but herself. In desperate need of a home but without the means to buy one, she did something incredible.

Equipped only with YouTube instructional videos, a small bank loan and a mile-wide stubborn streak, Cara built her own house from the foundation up with a work crew made up of her four children.

It would be the hardest thing she had ever done. With no experience nailing together anything bigger than a bookshelf, she and her kids poured concrete, framed the walls and laid bricks for their two story, five bedroom house. She had convinced herself that if they could build a house, they could rebuild their broken family.

This must-read memoir traces one family’s rise from battered victims to stronger, better versions of themselves, all through one extraordinary do-it-yourself project.

This program is read by the author.

©2016 Cara Brookins (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Cara Brookins did something remarkable with her life: She turned trauma into power and fear into courage. She refused to be a victim anymore. In powerful ways, her extraordinary memoir, Rise, tells the story of her resurrection from victim of domestic abuse to bad-ass mom with a hammer and carpenter’s square. You will be enlightened. You will be inspired. You will cheer her on as she builds a new home and a new life for herself and her four children—one brick at a time." —John Grogan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Marley & Me

"This rousing memoir beautifully illustrates how one family can look apprehension dead in the eye and scoff at it. For readers looking for inspiration to accomplish a daunting task, they need look no further than Brookins’ highly engaging and encouraging book." —Booklist

"If Rise were a novel, the plot—woman escapes domestic violence to build her own house, assisted only by her children and YouTube videos—would seem impossibly far-fetched. But Cara Brookins actually lived this story, and reading her account of it slowly filled me to the brim with admiration, hope, and belief that a determined human can do practically anything. Rise is a compelling story, lovingly told, that will uplift and inspire readers whatever their circumstances." —Martha Beck, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Your Own North Star

Wonderful!!!

So good I bought the hard cover for my daughter!
A must read for every woman!

Hats Off To The Family

What an awesome story.
What a beautiful lesson.
What a wonderfully built family.
Thanks for telling the story.

Riveting,Triumphantly Amazing Grace!

i actually listened to the first chapter and then returned six months later listening nonstop to the ending of a story that translates

our lives contain a plethora of peaks, valleys, plateaus, and crescendos

Rise!

Very inspirational.....

Life is never what we expect it to be and overcoming these obstacles is the outcome leading to success.

Powerful and Inspiring

As a mom picking up the broken pieces after finding my husband had been assaulting my 9yo daughter I have longed to read this book. I never have time. I have a now 13yo, 6yo and 3yo and we’re growing stronger all the time, but it’s also overwhelming and they out number me!!!
Building a house seems like a totally crazy idea!!!! But I myself have dreamed of it. I grabbed this book for inspiration. Then the auto book to listen to during work. Wow. It challenged my very being!!! So many questions have raised as I prepare for my ex’s release from prison. I felt a little unprepared for this kind of self discovery. But I’m also thankful for it! I’m so very thankful for this book.
The author read books are my favorite, to feel the words and emotions behind being the story to deeper meanings. Thank you for reading it. Honestly now it’s time to take the next steps with my own guides helping me, as you are one of the women before me cheering us on! Again thank you

Plenty of content...

This book has a great beginning, middle and ending. It left me, not questioning and complete. My kind of story.

A Fearless and Inspiring Story

This stands shoulder-to -shoulder to the books of other powerful women, like Strayed and Gilbert. To me, this was even more inspiring though. It convincingly says, if you believe in yourself you can accomplish anything, even building your own 3,500 sq. ft. house with your own two hands.

Riveting story!

The fact that Cara's optimism and humor survived such horrific circumstances inspires me to think twice before complaining about minor "problems" and to never view challenges as insurmountable.

Amazing Story

Such an amazing story of courage and strength. It really is amazing what a person can do when put in certain positions in life.
Highly recommend.

Great story of rebuilding themselves

What determination! So impressive! Once again Nothing is Final. You can always grow change and improve from any situation.