Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Takaya, N. (1998). Fruits basket. Los Angeles: Tokyopop Inc.
ISBN: 1591826039

Plot

Tohru Honda is an orphan who has lived by herself in the wilderness since the death of her mother in a car accident. She is adopted by the Sohma family who live in a house in the forest. Tohru soon finds out that the family is under a curse. Thirteen members of the family are possessed by the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac and a cat. When touched by a member of the opposite sex, they turn into these animals. The story follows the lives and loves of Tohru and the Sohma family as they struggle to keep their secret and fit into a world that doesn't understand them. Tohru, who is strong and optimistic, vows to help break this curse.

Critical Evaluation

Fruits Basket tends to be more intellectual than most manga series. There is comedy, drama, heartbreak, angst, romance and action. The characters are easy to relate to for tweens. The reader experiences their struggles and triumphs and learns more about each one as the characters are developed throughout the series. Takaya's artwork is particularly good as she uses shade and shadow to convey characters' emotions and inner feelings. This is the perfect manga series for girls. It is one of the most popular series ever produced. The 15th Volume placed number 15 on USA Today's Top 150 Best Selling Books. This is the highest position ever achieved by a manga novel. There are 23 volumes in all.

Readers Annotation

Tohru Honda is an orphaned girl trying to make it on her own. When she meets a family under an ancient curse and dangerous secret, her life and theirs will change forever. Follow the loves and lives of a group of most unusual people in Natsuki Takaya's excellent manga series Fruits Basket.

About the Author

Natsuki Takaya is the pen-name of Japanese manga artist and author Naka Hatake. She was born in 1973 in Shizuoka, Japan, but was raised in Tokyo. She reveals that she wanted to be a manga artist since first grade, but does not like to talk about herself. In 2001 she received the Kodansha Manga Award for Fruits Basket.

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Manga, Graphic Novel

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: Friendship and loyalty, Metamorphosis

Reading Level: Grade 4+
Interest Level: Grade 4+
Challenge Issues: None

This series is included because it is by far the best manga series for tweens in a literary and artistic sense. It is also immensely popular with girls.