Julie chose an interesting theme for this story but I wonder if it could ever happen in real life ? There are a number of communities in the world in which tradition insists that on reaching maturity, males must live as women before they can be accepted as men. Perhaps this theme could fit into that concept.

  Julie,I just loved the story and the empathy you showed for the three young men transitioning and the way you brought out their
relationship with the girls and their journey into "girlhood".
 Certainly a great way to break down barriers and prejudice and
most definitely a great way for boys to explore their femme side
 without being hassled.However ,the three contestants who were
 transitioning had a decided advantage over the ones who weren't
as they would be "girls"to the end no matter what happened.Still
one of the best stories I have read on the subject and you are to be
congratulated.Thank you so much and God bless.ALISON

I told you I would enjoy the story, even before I read it.
I was right, I loved the story!
Kisses.
Silvia.

this is a story that you must start reading on a friday or if you started your holiday. because when you start reading you can't put it down. the bit about the rape and the how it affect her had to be enclosed as it was apart of her makeup. the ending was very good as i wanted to know what happened to her friends. can't wait to read more of your gripping storys.

I didn't read this story yet, but I've certainty that's a lovely story, because You're great. I know I'll enjoy it!
Kisses.
Silvia.

I have never read a story on any site that has made me want to laugh and cry in the same chapter or reach into the screen and strangle one of the them if it was possiable. THANK YOU for the best story ever. Please think about adding the college years.

i thought this was a wonderful story and as i have tried to do a little writing myself i use this story as a reference. It  tries to teach us all understand and not to judge everyone by there sex, race, or religion. I have red this story many times and continue to read it when i can.

isa tue story? this is a heart warming story i love to see it become a  movie **********i would like meat erika in person she is spescail  if theres book no2.i like to see it thankyou for a wounderful book to explore

I'm delighted that, by the end of this serial, Julie had decided that the scholarship she first described as being designed to teach "gender equality" would need to include girls (who would have to dress and live as boys) in order for it itself to be gender equal; I suspect that she had some "help" along the way to this decision. I am sure that there are more of us gender dysphoric types than just myself who would be delighted for more females to discover just what it means to be male in our current socio-political climate. I can recall only one TG story (/The Princess Trap,/ by Tyrone Slothrop) where the two main characters, a boy and a girl, trade places-- it was most satisfying to read the author's observations as his female character learned how the "other half" lives, and what boys have to deal with.

A wonderful story of interesting characters. They are easy to empathize with and shortly into the story I really cared how it would work out. If you haven't published and books in brick & mortar, you should.
G.

Well Julie, what can one say, I actually downloaded this story from Big Closet I think many many months ago and while on holidays started to read it, after 4 days I have finally finished it.

While their are grammer errors and words missing (but then Erica did say that it was a poor point :)) in some places I have both laughed, cried and reminded how cruel the people in this world can be. It would do the world good if this story was made into a movie but unfortunately it will not happen as the majority of the population would not watch it.

Julie, well done! you obviously have a talent to write, it has put war and peace to shame (lol)keep writing as I'm sure that many have read it and not posted comments, I admit I rarely do.

M

hi just wanted to say i thought that this is by far the best story ive read and it would be great to have many more chapters added

Another wonderful story by one of my favorite TG fiction writers. There is a depth to the characters that's not present in a lot of writing. Presenting it as a diary of daily life in Erika's senior year of high school added to the sense of realism. I have mixed feelings about the assault on Erika - I understand the necessity of it to the evolution of the story and the character, but it was still a bit disturbing to read. There were aspects that were a bit 'too real'. It does make me stop to think about what happens in real life, and really makes me want to tread just a little bit lighter.

Thank you again for the excellent work. I've read most if not all of your writtings here and on fictionmania.com. There are several stories   that I hope will be continued - the characters are too good to just put away!

This story was wonderful.  Please keep up the good work amd never, never stop writing.  Respectfully, Joe

Thank you for one of the most throughly pleasant reads I've had in a while. The quality you put into this from start to finish takes what could have been just a another "wouldn't it be nice" story and vested it with characters and depth that pushes it well above the standard.

The rape shocked me with the honestly of your portral of it, and as horrible as it was, added a needed balance to Erika's story. (Which is sad in a way that I as the reader, would "need" something like this to happen to anyone, fictional or not. Don't you think?)

I was also tickled at the references to your other stories in the tabloids scene in Jenny's waiting room.

Thank you again for revisiting this one. The town of Golden Hill will stay with me forever.

Shade & Sweetwater,
NiGHTs ^_^

This is one of those rare stories that are so well written and so enormous in breadth, so accurate in detail, with such complete and believable characters in, that they deserve to be published in printed book form, made into a film, and made known very widely.  I would call this a classic epic tale.  I want to thank you, Julie, with all my heart, and all my admiration, for what you have created here.  At first, I just wanted to write, WOW!, but then I realised that this would not be enough.  Anyway, Thank you again for sharing this tale with us all.

Great Story!!!  It is refreshing and captivating to read (even if it is only fiction) of a community where there is such widespread support for transgendered folks.  It explores the possiblities of how much healthier a transition can be for everyone.  Good for you Julie O.
Kay

Ah, The Directors Cut. It will be interesting to see what the edit did to TG Fiction's Citizen Kane.
Thank's and Hugs
Chris
   

I remember when this story was initaly posted on Fictionmania. It came out in bite size chunks, one a day. I can remember that every night when I got home I imediatly checked for a new chapter. Truly compulsive reading.

Reading it again here has only reinforced in my mind the sheere quality of this story.

Julie's style of portraing the charector without getting caught up in the details of the clothing, is Precisly what I look for in a Great story. Clothes are after all only clothes, it is the charectors that give a tale its emotional depth and power.

Depth and Power being things this story has in Spades.

I defy anyone to read this without becoming emotionaly attached to Erica.

I must admit that including Rape in the story initialy put me off reading it. However, Julies frank and brutal portrail of the assault just felt Honest. It has the ring of truth to it, and fills me with sympathy for ANYONE of any gender that endures such. And Rage at the perpetrators of such bararic crimes.

I look forward eagerly to the rest of this fantastic story being posted here on Crystals.

With deepest admiration for a Wonderfull Wordsmith.

Natasha

The story of Erika moved me so much.  I hope that you write many more chapters.  You have a wonderful way of making me laugh and cry at the same time.  Erika's journey is one we all take at some time, both the good and the bad.

Keep writing about Erika
lisa

Julie,

I truely loved the depth and detail of this story. I find myself seeing these characters play out a movie in my head. I laugh, cry, pout and cheer as if I were living it!

Please never stop writing such beautiful work.

Rhonda

YAYYYYY!!!  I was just about to write to Julie and ask (well, to be honest, beg) her to put this entire wonderful story up on StorySite.  I just finished reading all of it on another website, and I just loved it.  Julie writes such interesting stories, and this is another marvelous example.  I really enjoyed the detail, as Erika finds herself and becomes 'all that you can be'.

Thanks Julie, for reading my mind,
Diane