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by Gina-Marie

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You know about the Chinese Zodiac, right? Twelve animals whose characteristics are believed to describe the people born in their respective years. Most people don't take their Zodiac sign too seriously. It's usually a source of amusement or cause for celebration. But what if the year you were born really could dictate the course of your entire life? What if you actually became your Zodiac animal?

That is the premise of Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya. The Sohma family is cursed. At any one time there are thirteen members of this family who are possessed by vengeful animal spirits. Twelve are possessed by Zodiac spirits. The thirteenth is possessed by the vengeful spirit of the Cat who, according to legend was cheated out of his place in the Zodiac by the Rat. Because of this, the year of the Rat could have been (or should have been, if you ask Kyo) the year of the Cat. These thirteen people have to hide their condition from everyone, including most of their very large extended family. They had been successful at hiding their secret from all outsiders until the time when this story begins.

When the story opens we are introduced to Tohru Honda, who has recently lost her mother. She stayed with some relatives for a time, but they didn't like her very much and never hesitated to make this point known to her so she decided to run away. She is camping in the woods when she is discovered by two of her classmates, Yuki and Kyo Sohma. They don't want her to live in a tent in the woods, and since she is on their property already, and they're both pretty nice guys in spite of themselves, they invite her to spend the night at their cousin, Shigure's house. After much discussion, and a taste of her cooking, she is invited to stay at the house as long as she likes. She soon discovers the family's secret. Yuki possesses the spirit of the Rat, Shigure is the Dog, and Kyo is the Cat. When they are hugged by someone of the opposite gender (excluding Zodiac members) or when they are sick, they transform into super-cute versions of their Zodiac animal forms.

As the story progresses we are introduced to more Zodiac members including Kagura the Boar (who is in love with Kyo), Momiji the Rabbit (who looks more like a 12-year-old girl than a 15-year-old boy, and who really likes Tohru), Hatori the Dragon (who actually turns into a sea horse because of how the Chinese word for Dragon translates in Japanese), Hatsuharu the Ox (who has two personalities, a "White" Haru and a "Black" Haru, and you do not want to be on the wrong side of "Black" Haru), Ayame the Snake (who is actually Yuki's older brother).

Things don't always go well for Tohru and her friends. Relationships between the Zodiac members and other people, even within their own family, are very difficult. Momiji was actually abandoned by his mother. Kyo's mother killed herself. Hatori was forbidden to marry the woman he loved by the clan leader, Akito. In fact, Akito causes problems for just about everyone in the Zodiac, and Kyo. He has a strange and obsessive relationship with Yuki, who is understandably afraid of him. He blinded Hatori in one eye. And he positively hates Tohru. And relations with people outside the family aren't any easier because at any moment they could suddenly transform into their animal forms. This is especially problematic for Yuki who is the most popular boy in his entire high school, even among the other boys which he finds very weird.

The story is told by Tohru, who becomes, as the story progresses, a more and more important part of the lives of the Zodiac members. She doesn't see her importance, in fact she doesn't think she is important at all, but she brings out the best in her friends and even helps them come to terms with their situation.

I haven't read as much of the series as I'd like, but it is a series I plan to finish, and it is a series I would highly recommend to anyone who likes pretty boys, boys dressing as girls, cute furry animals, and stories about friends spending time together.

Learn more about this author, Gina-Marie.

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