Mysteries of the Chinese Zodiac

Fruits Basket #1 by Natsuki Takaya

Takaya, Natsuki. 2004. Fruits basket. Volume 1. Los Angeles: Tokyopop. 1591826039. $9.99. Paperback.

Annotation:
Orphan Tohru Honda is taken in by the Sohma family and discovers their secret. They are possessed by the spirits of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac.

Awards:
YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2005

Library Journal Review (May 1, 2004)

Publishers Weekly Review (March 8, 2004)

Orphan Tohru Honda is on her own. After her mother died, her grandfather took her in, but he asked her to stay somewhere else while his house was being remodeled. She’s been living in a tent in the woods, yet still managing to make it to high school and her job every day. Tohru’s secret is discovered by Yuki Sohma, or “the Prince” as the girls at school call him, because he’s handsome, charming and aloof. Not to mention mysterious. Yuki and his cousin Shigure Sohma offer to let Tohru stay with them if she’ll take care of the household chores. They’re a couple of messy guys and can’t cook. Tohru agrees, but she’s about to discover that the Sohmas have a secret too. There’s an ancient curse on their family, one that changes them in bizarre ways.

Image from WorldCat.