Twelve: A Memoir of Survival, Broken Silence, and Hope

By Michelle J. Junior

Releasing August 12, 2026

Michelle was twelve years old when the man her family trusted kidnapped her. For fifty days, she survived in darkness. When she was found, she was four and a half months pregnant.

What followed was a journey no child should have to make — through courtrooms, foster homes, and a system that didn't know what to do with a pregnant twelve-year-old who refused to give up her baby. Written in Michelle's own voice as a twelve-year-old girl, Twelve puts you inside the experience — not as an observer, but as a witness.

This is not a story about what was done to her. This is a story about what God did with it.

Twelve includes:

  • Actual court transcripts from Michelle's case

  • A discussion guide for book clubs and reading groups

  • A professional reader guide for social workers, foster parents, educators, and CASA volunteers

  • A resource section with hotlines and support organizations for survivors and their advocates

Content note:Twelve addresses child kidnapping, confinement, child sexual abuse (non-graphic), child pregnancy, and the foster care system. It is written for adult readers. Reader discretion is advised.

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Who this book is for

Twelve is for survivors who need to know they are not alone. It is for the women in churches, shelters, Bible studies, and book clubs who are ready for a story that is honest about darkness and honest about God. It is for the social worker, foster parent, teacher, CASA volunteer, and counselor who wants to understand what the child in their care actually carries. It is for the teen mom who feels lost and alone and has been told her story doesn’t matter. It does.

What People Are Saying

“I have had the privilege of hearing Michelle’s story in person many times, and I am thrilled this book will now bring her encouragement to a wider audience. While some parts of her journey are difficult to fathom, her life stands as a powerful testimony that what was intended for evil, God truly meant for good.”

—Amy Peterson, Educator & former Women's Ministry Director

“This book had such an impact on me. What Michelle went through is more than most can even imagine, but to see the power of God in her life is awe-inspiring. Her story has made me examine my own life and think about how I'm using the time I have on this earth.”

— Lexie Rogers

“Michelle's journey is a heart-wrenching and deeply moving triumph. She writes with honesty, courage, and grace, inviting the reader into the darkest chapters of her story and guiding them toward hope, healing, and faith. This memoir is both a testament to resilience and a powerful reminder that even the most unthinkable pain can be redeemed.”

— Sara K. Parker, Author