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Title | Volume 1
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2015
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2015
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Title | Volume 2
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2015
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2015
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Title | Volume 3
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2015
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2015
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Title | Volume 4
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2015
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2015
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Title | Volume 5
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2016
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2015
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Title | Volume 6
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2016
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2016
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Title | Volume 7
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2016
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2016
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Title | Volume 8
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2016
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2016
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Title | Volume 9
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2017
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2016
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Title | Volume 10
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2017
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2016
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Title | Volume 11
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2017
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2016
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Title | Volume 12
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Author | Natsuki Takaya
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Publisher | Yen Press - 2017
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2016
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Category | Manga
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Warnings | None
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Main Characters | Tohru Honda, and the Sohma clan
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Main Elements | Shapeshifters, gods
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Volume 1
After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own--when embraced by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!
A perennial favorite of fans and librarians alike, Natsuki Takaya's beloved bestselling Fruits Basket series returns to print in gorgeous deluxe English-language omnibus editions with beautiful full-color illustrations that are not to be missed!
Volume 2
When she was living in a tent pitched on the Sohma family's land, Tohru Honda's primary concerns were dirt and slugs. But now that she's living with the Sohmas, magical powers and ancient curses are the order of the day! With Yuki and Kyo at each other's throats like cats and... rats, life at the Sohmas' is lively enough, but it all heats up as Hatsuharu joins the fray, spoiling for a fight! And even before the new school year can get underway, the mystery surrounding the family escalates when Akito, head of the Sohma clan, confronts Tohru without warning...
Volume 3
Spring is in the air, and with spring comes break! When Shigure takes Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo to the Sohma's vacation home to make the most of Golden Week, the inevitable game of cat and rat is already underway, with sparks flying between Yuki and Kyo. But leave it to Tohru to smooth things over! The peace doesn't last, however, when another Sohma (or two?!) drops in!
But even a vacation can't prepare the group for the surprise that awaits them upon their return. When a face from Kyo's past makes an appearance, he lets a shocking secret about the cat out of the bag...
Volume 4
Tohru Honda's cheerful optimism acts as a balm to many in the Sohma family, who are no strangers to darker emotions. With Tohru in the mix, the household passes its days in relative harmony, even having Kisa over for a "sleepover" and some good old fun. Unfortunately, not every Sohma looks kindly upon the intrepid interloper! Kisa and Tohru have become fast friends, but sharp-tongued middle schooler Hiro Sohma isn't too happy about this turn of events--and decides to take it out on Tohru?! Later, as everyone's thoughts turn to summer and fall, the normalls docile Hatsuharu suddenly snaps, turning into a raging bull at school and putting even "Black Haru" to shame. Will Tohru's soothing presence have any effect at all?!
Volume 5
As summer vacation inches closer, Tohru spends her days in anxious anticipation, Yuki meets a new student council member on the way to school...and Uo-chan is in love?! Who is the object of her affections?! Once summer break is in full swing, Tohru and the others take a trip to the Sohma family cottage at Momiji's invitation. Even though they're enjoying summer activities like swimming in the ocean and catching stag beetles, Yuki and Tohru have an ominous premonition! Meanwhile, Shigure pays a visit to the main house, where he makes a proposal to Akito--?!
Volume 6
Tohru should be having the time of her life during summer break at the Sohmas' vacation home...but ever since Akito appeared, Yuki and the others go off every day to meet with the zodiac leader. On top of that, Yuki is acting weird...! And when Tohru encounters the Horse of the zodiac, does that leave Akito as the Rooster?! Later, as the next school term begins, the new student council assembles at last!! While Yuki and those around him are occupied, Tohru secretly visits Kazuma. She wishes to free everyone in the Sohma family from their "curse" and looks to him for a clue...Unexpectedly, however, Rin is poised to hinder Tohru's efforts...!!
Volume 7
Yuki-alongside his mother, who already has his life after high school all mapped out-confronts his future at a parent-teacher conference. To make matters worse, when Yuki recalls buried memories, he becomes speechless! Meanwhile, Tohru pays a visit to the Sohma compound in order to confirm if Kureno Sohma is really the same man with whom her best friend, Uo-chan, is in love!
Love isn't in the air for Isuzu and Hatsuharu, however, as the two have broken up. Desperately in search of something, Isuzu visits Shigure's house as if driven there, but collapses upon arrival. A shocked Tohru happens to be on the scene, but all she can do is comfort Isuzu in her pain. But Isuzu seems to know all about Tohru fighting the Sohma curse on her own...!?
Volume 8
Yuki's childhood was a long period of solitary darkness. Years later, he met Tohru, but what does he want from her? Yuki reveals to Kakeru what he can tell no one else. Meanwhile, Tohru's class is going to put on a play for the school festival, but miscasting makes it rough going for rehearsal. Will there be chaos on stage when the curtain finally rises?!
Later, Kyo recalls meeting Tohru's mother as a child and talking to her about her experiences. Persevering through a rough adolescence, one that lacked any love from her parents, she one day encountered teacher-in-training Katsuya Honda... At long last, the moving story of Katsuya and Kyoko is revealed!! Then, it's business as usual for Tohru and the others, but something is eating at Kyo?!
Volume 9
Secrets of the curse revealed! Dive deep into the twisted relationship between Akito and Kureno, the most elusive member of the Sohma zodiac. Tohru tries to help, but finds herself in even deeper trouble. Good thing she has steadfast friends who will save the day!
Meanwhile, something is going on with Machi. When Yuki and Kakeru pay a visit to her house, will the secrets of her past be revealed? And trouble is on the horizon when Hatsuharu finally learns what Akito did to Rin. Will anything be able to stop his wrath, or will he do something he can't take back?!
Volume 10
The much-loved series winds down to the homestretch. Tohru's feelings for Kyo come to the forefront as she desperately searches for a way to break the curse. If she can't find a cure in time, Kyo will be locked away by the Sohma for the rest of his life! Graduation is fast approaching, meaning major decisions that will affect not only Tohru and Kyo but all of the members of the Sohma Zodiac. After all of this heartbreak, is a happy ending even possible...?
Volume 11
The curse is crumbling, and Akito is doing anything to clutch at the broken threads that remain. Does the end of the curse mean catastrophe for the members of the zodiac, or will it bring the much needed healing they've all dreamed of? Tohru's bright love and generosity will become a beacon of hope in the dark...!
Volume 12
Finally, the curse is broken for all of the members of the Zodiac and they're granted their freedom. Kyo and Tohru confirm their feelings for each other and take the first step towards their new future. The drama of a family cursed by the Zodiac comes to a moving conclusion!!
This collector's edition also includes a long interview with Natsuki Takaya-sensei, character introductions, a history of the serialized publication, and much more!!!

Tohru's mother passes away suddenly, and Tohru finds herself homeless. Undaunted she decided to live in a tent only to find out the land on which she was camping out belongs to the Sohma family. While deciding what to do with her, she accidentally hugs one of them, and he turns into a cat! Turns out that the Sohma clan is cursed, 13 members of which take the form of an animal of the zodiac (including the cat that missed becoming one due to the trickery of the rat, something the cat has never forgiven) when hugged by a member of the opposite sex.
These books are a lot of fun, with Tohru being the anchor that helps the cursed family members to deal with their nature and the abuses of their pasts. No matter what goes wrong Tohru keeps a smile on her face, no matter how small the gift, Tohru is grateful. She is merely happy to get up in the morning and enjoy a beautiful day. We could all strive to be more like her. And of course it helps to have good friends, they may be the strangest pair of friends one can imagine, but never any so loyal and supportive. How could they not, they owe Tohru for changing their lives for the better, simply by being Tohru.
And of course the Sohma clan. They are either constantly fighting each other. Or they are confused as to their gender (feels like half the males make better females than females do). Most, if not all, suffered some kind of abuse in their childhoods. Each one is different and yet because each one is exotic they start to look the same (only so many femmy-guys can one keep straight in a black & white manga, at least Shigure stands out with him being one of two adults!) and I struggled with their nicknames, after everyone got three or four different names (and we have 13 Sohmas, Tohru, her two friends, her classmates, and some other random characters) I was thinking I was going to have to create an index of characters!
The manga swings from being funny and lighthearted, to being seriously dark, with moments of physical child abuse. There are moments when the scenes get so frantic I find it hard to understand what's going on, and of course there are some references I don't get (a much appreciated appendix at the back for us Westerners!). I can see why a lot of people love this manga, there are certainly a lot of mysterious pretty boys to drool over! But I must admit its not my favorite (I tend towards more dark and serious like Hellsing, Death Note or The Girl from the Other Side). I think it's that frantic-ness, perhaps too teenager-y for me. If I were watching the anime version of it, it would be one of those where my parents would walk in wondering what all the girly screaming was about! But I keep reading it, because I want to meet all of the animals of the zodiac, learn all their stories, and figure out what's up with Akita and Shigure and what plans they have for Tohru. There's much more to the story than just the trials and tribulations of high school students.
And I can't end a review without commenting on the art, which is excellent. Though I may have trouble telling those beautiful boys apart, it doesn't mean I don't enjoy looking at them. But in the end, it's really about Tohru, she's such a wonderful person you can't help wanting to find out what will happen to her. Will she fix the Sohma family and bring about peace between the members, simply by being who she is, offering a shoulder to cry on, and a smile when you're feeling bad. She reminds us that it's the people around us, and the small pleasures of life that really matter in the end.
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