Has anyone read The Proto-Gospel of James?  I thought it was very interesting and it raised some questions.  It's in my Lost Scriptures book, which I am still reading.  But before I get to those questions, here is an opening summary about The Proto-Gospel of James prior to reading it taken from the Lost Scriptures book:
 
This book is sometimes called a "Proto-Gospel" because it narrates events that took place prior to Jesus' birth(although it includes an account of the birth as well.)  The ancient manuscripts that preserve the book have different titles, including, "The Birth of Mar," "The Story of the Birth of Saint Mary, Mother of God," and "The Birth of Mary; The Revelation of James."  It's author claims to be James, usually understood to be Jesus' (half-) brother known from the New Testament (e.g., Mark 6; Galatians 1).  Here he is assumed to be Joseph's son by a previous marriage. 
 
Focusing its attention on Jesus' mother, Mary, the book provides legendary accounts of (a) her miraculous birth to the wealthy Jew, Joachim, and his wife Anna; (b) her sanctified upbringing in the Jerusalem Temple; (c) her marriage as a twelve-year old to Joseph, an old widower miraculously chosen to be her husband; (d) her supernatural conception of Jesus through the Spirit; and (e) the birth of Jesus in a cave outside of Bethlehem.  Parts of the book rely heavily on the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke, but with numerous intriguing expansions, including legendary reports of Joseph's previous marriage and grown sons, Mary's work as a seamstress for the curtain in the temple, and the supernatural events that transpired at the birth of Jesus, including a first-hand narrative told by Joseph of how time stood still when the Son of God appeared in the world.  In one of the most striking of its narratives we are told that an originally unbelieving midwife performed a postpartum inspection of Mary to be assured of her virginity.
 
Since the book was already known to the church father Origen in the early third century, and probably to Clement of Alexandria at the end of the second, it must have been in circulation soon after 150 CE. (Yes, it's CE, that's what the book said).  The book was enormously popular in later centuries, and played a significant role in pictorial art of the Middle Ages. 
 
So, here are my questions:
How was Mary anyway when she married Joseph?  Was she really 12?
 
Was Jesus really born in a cave or in a manger like it says in the bible?  There is some articles on the internet that suggest he was born in a cave.
 
http://www.cptryon.org/compassion/win99/beth2.html
 
http://www.rejesus.co.uk/spirituality/nativity/jesus.html
 
Thoughts?  Thoughts!?
 
Steve