About the book

In They Made A Monster, Gracia Younes delivers a gripping memoir that exposes the harrowing realities of institutional abuse and the resilience required to survive it.

Torn from her family at twelve and placed under the care of Quebec’s Director of Youth Protection, Gracia embarks on a six-year odyssey through a system that dehumanizes rather than protects. Her story is a raw, unflinching account of life within the oppressive confines of a youth detention center, where trauma is pathologized and resilience is punished.

Gracia's desperate escapes into the chaotic freedom of the streets reveal a paradoxical sense of humanity absent from institutional life. Her journey through homelessness, sex trafficking, and addiction is a testament to her indomitable spirit and the fleeting connections found in unexpected places.

Despite the relentless cycle of capture and confinement, Gracia's story is one of reclaiming identity and purpose. Now a leading expert advisor on human trafficking, Gracia has transformed her suffering into a powerful force for change.