My, my, if your story were human, it would be old enough to vote!  I have no idea if you'll receive this, but if you do, I just wanted to let you know that people are still reading your work.  I'm sure I read this years ago, but revisiting it last week, I have to say that it has aged very well.  Still just as well written, just as evocative as ever.  I especially liked your sensitive handling of Jenny's indeterminate/ambiguous sexual orientation. "How I Spent My Summer" remains one of the best of its kind.  A greatly belated Brava!  Best wishes.
. . . Tamara Segunda

Aleisha, you write a beautiful story. I can't wait for the next one.
I became a full time crossdresser about 9 years ago. That was the day
wy wife and I were wed. She made us matching wedding dresses and we
were wed in Las Vegas, both dressed as brides. We have photos in our
living room of the ceremony. Jenny is very well done and my wishes
are all on "Her" side. Its  two headed coin, isn't it? I haven't
regretted the chance to see both sides of the coin. I no longer own
any male clothes, nor wish to.

4ctnuy Im grateful for the article. Want more.

I found this a very good story...

I'll tell you Aleisha!
Anything forced is fair or good! Remember this!
BAD story.
Silvia.

just lovely story Aleisha, it is wonderful accompanying a person take on freedom in softness, freeing form male gender role hashness.
I would love to share with you, you write brilliantly and I would love to share with you the uncovering of the nuances of this process

Very good story though hated being left hanging at the ending.  You've got some writeing talent hope to find more of your stories on my never ending quest to read.....

I enjoyed your story very much.  It was so gentle and loving. It conveyed the attraction and enjoyment that crossdressers instinctively feel about feminine clothing.  That sense exuded off each page.  Your characters were well selected also.  Thank you for a great piece of work.  I look forward to reading more of it.

thank you the great story.  and yes to a sequel.

Aleisha,
What a lovely story! A gentle story of a growing love and a transition to a new life.
Thank you.

  An interesting story...rather "sexy" in parts...and loved the idea of being feminized...by women.  I had a feminizing experience as a child with three of my aunts...and it reminded me of them.

yes please lets have another story - - loved it.

great story this one, wishI were Jennie!!

Absolutely brilliant - I found this had some much - initially a bit long but the twists and turns taking in some much of a crossdresser's fantasy that I look forward to reading more of your stories.

I am not commenting to critize anything about this story about Johnny/Jennie but, only to tell you that I have read your story and that I enjoyed it so very much. If all of your works are as good, I hope to find as many as I can to read. Thank you so much and keep writing because you do have a unique talent.

Neecee

Jsut read your story. It is very interesting and a great "family" story. I would like to see a follow up story to learn how Jennie did thru her life until she settles down with her "other half".

Hi Dear!

I just read this divine story the early hours this morning. I, for one, loved every bit of this tale though others have a somewhat different take. Most particularly, I loved how you maintained a light touch throughout the feminization process, including the sex scenes. Certainly there were issues outstanding, I'd have liked also a continuation of the Jenny/Marie relationship. Most delightful is the family reunification when Jenny confronts Jim. I laughed with Lisa when Lisa and Grandmother caught Joe and Jim; just too funny. Thanks for a wonderful story, well told.

Fondly,

Cassandra

Absolutely brilliant story. Maybe as previous comments suggest that Johnny was a little too compliant to accept the change into Jennie, but then again maybe not as i pictured myself in his position and felt immensly jealeous but knowing that i would have been very willing to comply. Was disapointed that after Grandmother passed away that Jennie didn't return to be with Marie. I was rooting for that relationship to blossom as they were so much in love. Keep up the good work Aleisha, and please write some more about Johnny/Jennie

the summer must have seemes to go on forever the way it has been portryayed it is a good story none of the strugl=gle associated with life he just accepted it well done&written

Oh My God I just finsh your story and I have to say I loved it! This story had my heart betting so hard I at some part I had to walk away and most of the story I as fully hard. It was great! I saw my self as Jonny and felt what he left good and bad I wish I didn't read it so I could read it agen for the first time. I wish you would make a 2en story about Jennie and what happen to her like where did she go to school now she is a girl? does she make new friends and does her old friends learn of his change? Does she date men or women? Who does she merry is it a man or woman? So PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Write a another story with her.

This was a truly inspiring story, don't you think so? I think it had an astounding plot and an even better writing style, along with what wasw either alot of research or a bizaar up-bringing^_^ I am very gald to have read this, and hope that you continue to write such masterpieces Ms. James
All my luv(dearly not queerly)
 Sabriel Kalt

WHAT A LOVELY STORY. I FELT AS IF THINGS WERE HAPPENING TO ME, AND I LOVED THEM. I EVEN FELT A BIT JEALOUS OF JOHNNY BECOMMING JENNY.

I just reread this after 2 1/2 years and then reread my comments.  I stand by them, although as an alternative to rebellion he might, being an honorable boy, comply but with complete cold stoicism.  At the initial confrontation, when Grandmother tells him what she intends, he stands and coldly makes the following statement.  "I now see, Grandmother, why my father acts as he does.  I promised my mother that I would obey you, so I will comply with your demands and follow your orders."  and then do exactly as he was told, no more, and speak only when he was spoken to, and smile only when ordered to do so.  I wonder how Grandmother and Marie would have reacted to a Jennie like that who kept scrupulously to the letter of the law and ignored the spirit of it.  Would they still slip him the hormones?  If so, he might think that that relieved him of the promise to follow orders.

Hi Aleisha

I just wanted to tell you how much i enjoyed your story. I think you are a very good writer, and would love to read more of your stories.
i wish johnny could have put up more of a fight but that's just me.
I love the way the story ended and would love to find out what happens
to jennie.
Bye Shaylynn

HI Aleisha,
I just read all your readers comments, at least those posted here.
Although there might have been some more fighting of Johnny against feminization given his fatherly background or more forcing by his grandma if he hadnt obliged at once, I loved the description and the development of the characters, although I would have loved to see grandma play a more predominant role and the origin of her relation to mary.
Anyway I had a lot of fun reading it and it really annoys me that the end is left open! AS well as a description of a meeting with Lisa and Donald! Is there a chance to read more of this story or any other story you wrote??? I would love to read more. Keep up the good work and always remember: these are just hints and no bad criticism of your nice writing work

Kisses
Nicole

Well i'm a fan of your work now, i have to agree with some of the coments that the acceptance of jonnie was to easy, but thinking again if the choice is offered with such circunstances how many will stand as men and how many in the new roll?, the answer can´t be tell by any of us at least not by me i have never been in that kind of situation and i mean the entire picture.
I wondering also where can i find more of your work, i love it please keep writing

 You have quite a mixed bag of comments, dont you?  I find myself agreeing with both camps - the conversion of Jonnie was too easy but at the same time it was most enjoyable.  There was so much to take in that I had to read it twice to appreciate it fully.  Well done.
Jayne

I'm a big fan of your work, I've read many of your other stories elsewhere, and I just stumbled onto crystal's site, I was wondering if you might tell me where I could find more of your work?
Thanks for the great writing, later!

The writing skill is good. The story line is interesting but the character is not developed over time. Johnny is too ready to become Jennie. Too easy so to speak. The introduction of hormone in the first summer is premature as this will prevent the essential story line of switching back and forth.

This was a very engrossing story. I sat and read it all before taking a break and reading something else. Aleisha, you write very well indeed. If you continue this story, you should start from where Jennie has just met her father and they have talked. I would like to know if there were any more summers at Grandmother's. And what about Lisa and Donald's impending visit?

Barb

This is a very well written tale. The charecters are well drawn and compelling. I do not think Jonnie's acceptance of what was being done to him is believable at all. This is basically a story of child abuse by his grandmother and mother. The resentment and probable hatred for these women should have been addressed. The sexual relationship with the maid was disgusting and so obviously manipulative. There would be trauma from this cold cruelty for a sensative child to deal with, and I think the author should have done so. I realize this is fantasy, but good fantasy requires some stamp of truth and it is sadly missing here. The women's motives need careful explaination for doing this to a child. They seem to feel that this will make him a better man, but I am left with a very well written story of unexplained child abuse. The author is a wonderfull story teller and my comments are made to encourage growth, not to belittle the story.

Ok, first off, it was a long read. Would have been nice if I could have dragged the computer into the bathroom but it's too heavy, LOL. I had trouble relating to the "family tradition" too. But I was curious how our daring author would pull this off and so I stuck with her until I found out.

I think Johnny, being a regular boy, would have put up quite a fight and  his grandmother would have had to do something stronger than put a sexy maid in his path.

I think the kid would have freaked out and maybe jumped out a window or something.  I know I would have, especiallif if I didn't understand what was going on from the jump.

But I must hand it to Aleshia, her plotting was good and her characters interesting. The ending was a tease. And a clear clifhanger type. She can use this to do a spinoff and keep folks wondering who Jennie married--forever. Wish she'd have given us a teen-wwwny  hint.

Anyway, it was a good read. And she did warn us it was gonna be long. I'm glad to have read it.
Thanks.

  A very beautiful story, hope to read more from you in the future.

I liked the concept of the story, the "family tradition" I had trouble, though, suspending disbelief at the beginning.  I think he accepts the feminization way way too easily.  There was no hint that he had any feminine tendencies before the story opens, and he knows how his dad feels about his grandmother, so I think he would be VERY apprehensive about anything she proposes.  When Grandmother shows him the picture, I would have expected him to think, *Oh my gawd, no wonder he hates her! No way!" and take off for the door.  That took place before Marie saduced him, too, so he wasn't yet under her influence.
Also, I think Dad accepts things way too easily.  A sidebar of Mom and Dad at the hospital where Mom tells Dad where son is would have been nice.

In every genre there are but few who carry the stardards, and Aleisha James is unquestionable among the bearers.  I recommend to all the sweet indulgence of "How I Spent My Summer", and come to know as I have one of the finest talents to be found anywhere.

Thanks for the sweet story. Even though it's fiction parts of it made me cry and I really loved the feminization of the main character in this tale.

Thank you for a very nice story.  The feminization of Jennie certainly made him a more gentle child while preserving a very thought-provoking family tradition.  I would hope that your story encourages more mothers to consider the merits of feminization, so that boys can learn to be less aggressive, kind, considerate and more respectful toward women.  Thank you again.
Judi