I forgot to mention one small criticism, in case the author is still reading these comments. The particular usage of the word "read" to refer to the occasions when someone penetrates a crossdresser's femme persona and guise, and sees the male underneath is, so far as I know, unique to the gender community, or to the gender and "drag queen" communities. I do not believe that it has entered general usage as of yet, and it seems unlikely that the characters in this story would be using it that way, particularly before they research "crossdressing" on the 'net.

This story has some unusual qualities. For one thing, it presents us with a male main character who has considerable strength -- which is something almost unheard of in TG fiction -- along with considerable integrity. He stands up and tells both his older brother and his mom "NO" -- and makes it stick -- when the brother tries to rope him into a scheme. He tells his new girlfriend to keep her promise (which she made before meeting him) to be another boy's date at an important social event, even though it is painful to them both to do that.

Then, about the middle of part one, we discover how the main character's brother was actually trying to cash in on him. If I had a brother who did that to me, I would disown him, perhaps permanently -- but that's just me. So, you can see why my suspension of disbelief was seriously challenged when the main character instead decides to go for his brother's scheme, which involves him dressing as a girl. Even the author doesn't have a reason for this change of decision: she has the main character ask his new girlfriend "Why am I doing this?" However, if one accepts that people sometimes do things impulsively for reasons they themselves may not understand, then one must also accept that his girlfriend finds that she likes dressing him up and being with him as a girl, and finds other opportunities to persuade him to do it again.

I regard stories that describe feminization by manipulation and seduction to be forced fem stories, because those things are also forms of coercion, though they are more subtle than blackmail and torture. Though his girlfriend puts pressure on him to crossdress, we get the idea that the main character takes ownership of his responsibility for deciding to go along with her. For one thing, whenever the parents of either family question them about it, he always answers using "we" to emphasize that the decision was mutual -- never "She asked/wanted/made me do it." Behind that lies his recognition that he could always have said "no" if he really did not want to do it. Once again, we are shown a main character with strength and integrity.

In part 4, though, the girlfriend introduces him to the term "crossdresser," which is a label he quickly buys into. Though the author may have done that to support her commentary on the social intolerance that the gender community constantly faces, it is implicit throughout this story, and stated explicitly in 'A Year In My Life - Part II', that the main character is not dressing up for the (erotic) thrill of it, though he does admit that he likes the soft feel of the clothes. He does it -- and reluctantly, for much of this story -- because it provides something to share with his girlfriend that deepens their relationship, and brings them closer together. In other words, he does it out of his love for her, and a love that runs much deeper than the lust and sex that drives most other stories of this sort.

Another unusual quality of this story is the plain and simple dialogue, which is written the way that teenagers actually speak. The parents and other adults also speak the way one would expect, given their various backgrounds. Both the dialog and the situations in this story are entirely credible, and the thoughts and behavior of the characters is well within range of how I (speaking for myself, y'know) experience ordinary people.

Love, honesty, integrity, and the sharing of something special between two people who are coming of age are what drives this story, and that makes it very special, and beautiful. At the end, I most definitely cried.

Hi!

Just love your stories!
 You paint such believable details, .. such kind & sensitive people, ... drama without violence nor vulgarity, ... romance & such suspence!

Thank-you!

Hi Teddi...
I loved your story so much that I nearly lost a day of work reading it. This story is so well written and what I really love best is that it's not filled with sexual @#$%%^&*(@#$, if you know what I mean. It's very clean and yes suggestive but in a very soft and romantic flavor.

Looking foward to reading the rest of the adventures of Gwen & Kate!
Hugs for LI, NY,
Eileen

This story was so well written.  I enjoyed every bit of it.  I've always been fond of stories in the form of a journal.  You're a great writer.  I hope you continue to write amazing stories.