Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Fruits Basket is a Japanese manga. Manga is read right to left and don't worry, it has been translated into English. Manga is a comic style book. Fruits Basket has 23 volumes however, these have all not yet been released. 15 have currently been published in the UK (date March 2007). Volume 16 is due for release in April 2007.
Tohru Honda is an ordinary high school girl however, her father died when she was very young and her mother hasn't long died in an accident. Tohru cannot live with her relatives because they are decorating, so she decides to live in a tent and has a job late after-school. One day, she discovers the Sohma estate and is allowed to live with Shigure, Yuki and Kyo until the decorating is completed.
However, Tohru discovers a very big secret which is ancient and no one is supposed to know. If any of the Sohma's, that are possessed by a curse, are embraced by the opposite sex or are very weak, they transform into one of the Chinese Zodiac animals (that's also including the cat). They stay as the animal for a while however, but they do transform back to normal.
Usually when people find out about this, their memories are erased. Thankfully for Tohru, her memories are not erased and she lives with Yuki and Kyo, 2 of her friends. However, Tohru must not tell anyone about this secret.
Tohru moves into her relative's house, but to her, it doesn't feel like home. Tohru classed the Sohma's estate as home. Yuki and Kyo fetch her and Tohru reveals her desire to stay with Yuki and Kyo at her new home.
Torhu's life is turned upside down as she discovers and meets more of the people of the Chinese Zodiac. Fruits Basket is a lovely and interesting story. It is classed for teenagers and is suitable for both boys and girls. Fruits Basket is a romance and comedy.
Fruits Basket has made me cry quite a few times, but it's a lovingly story. Tohru is classed as motherly and says some lovingly quotes. Fruits Basket is also very funny.
I would recommend this to anyone. You can buy manga books from Waterstones, Borders and the best place is Forbidden Planet.
