Critique of Winning is So Sweet

THE AUTHOR OF *WINNING IS SO SWEET* CRITIQUES HER SHORT STORY IN RESPONSE TO A MANGA CRITIC'S REVIEW

Thank you very much, Alicia Rose, a noted literary critic, for reading this critique and making comments about my short story. I was confined somewhat by the subject matter of the story, but I tried to do my best to bring to all readers interested in a male to female transition, to bring to them an interesting story. To reply to your comments----

You have the correct understanding on how the three girls confronted Leonard. Half of Deedee wanted to go into the contest in male battle mode, using "Albert's" information to out think Leonard and win, as would a typical male who wishes to win over another male. But the other half of Deedee, the feminine one, chose to contest the game on feminine terms, hence the use of the ultra-feminine clothing, attitudes, and distractions, as well as using "Albert's" information about game play. She convinced the other girls to do the same, using the three feminine outfits that she remembered from her dream.

I provided only some of the evidence as to Deedee's personality. I left it up to the readers to decide if there is enough of her personality traits to determine whether Deedee is, or is not, a female to male transgender teen.

Leonard has tried for most of his older childhood and teen/tween life to conceal his girl traits with his " tough boy, sports fan " personality. It worked! Deedee greatly suspected that Leonard had a gender related secret, but the others never suspected that Leonard was anything but a " typical " teenage boy. However, when he saw the other girls playing up their feminine looks and traits, his female girl spirit could no longer be suppressed and contained. In a sense, 'his hand was forced' by his own desires and circumstances, to do a 'coming out' as a teen girl.

Sherry and Mazie are indeed Shoujo Ai / Light Yuri / Lily girls. It certainly looks like that they will become girl-with-girl romantic friends and lovers, since *Philia love* (intimate romance), *Ludus Love* (love of the fun of being together), and suchlike romance has a stronger attraction and bond than *Eros love* (sexual attraction).

You are right, Leonard does have some positive traits, to balance his less comely masculine traits. The tip-off was when Deedee admitted to herself that she secretly "liked him, liked to match wits with him " (Chapter 1). Their relationship changed and evolved, as well as Leonard's relationship with the group, when he substituted male aggression with feminine looks and traits. After several agonizing days of thought, he chose to gamble everything, up to and including certain expulsion from the group of friends and their social circle, in trying to duplicate the seemingly unknown winning abilities of the girls, up to and including seemingly cross-dressing as a girl. He was much surprised with the group's positive reaction to his dressing as Leonard's correct Gender Identity of that of a teenage girl, and the display of good traits so often thought of as a 'girl's spirit'.

I wanted to show that each person got far more than they bargained for, far beyond the simple winning of a game. Each one did have that happen to them. Each one of the teens was helped to learn more of life's lessons, for the good.

It's my hope that other teens and other persons who read my story may become more understanding and caring of people who have gender issues, and who may have their personality as that of a manifestation of that of a female Gender Identity and Gender Expression.

Noel and Deedee as they looked in high school.

Holly Ann Ivy---Author

Sept 4, 2009