Series Review: Fruits Basket 

By Takaya, Natsuki 

5 Stars 

Fruits Basket is a story revolving around the Chinese Zodiac. The main character is an orphan named Tohru Honda, and she meets members of the Sohma family who are possessed by the Chinese Zodiac.  

Personally, I enjoyed this book because of how developed the plot is. Despite the different events and personalities of all the characters, there was never once a moment where I thought the characters' actions didn't match their personality. The story covers various themes such as loneliness, being an outcast, romance, and much more. The plot is a little heavy for those who don't have much experience reading psychological themes; however, the manga does have a bunch of light and silly moments.  

As for what I didn't enjoy, I didn't like the secondary couple because it felt very random. The male in the secondary couple had ties with someone else, and ended up with another girl. It seemed a bit like the author just wanted to give him a happy ending. Regardless, I think that the secondary couple's dynamic is nice considering they're opposites.  

I've read several manga, and I am proud to say this is one of my favourites.   

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance and comedy and doesn't mind psychological themes, as it is a bit apparent in the book. As for a specific audience, I would recommend it to teenage girls, given that it is a shoujo manga.  

Additionally, there is an anime adaptation for those who prefer watching as opposed to reading. 

Reviewed by Zoe as part of the Teen Reviewer, opens a new window program.

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