Title: Fruits Basket, Volume 5
Author: Natsuki Takaya
Translator: Althea Nibley
Paperback: 208 pages
Published: 2004
ISBN: 9781591826071
Challenges: Manga Challenge, What’s In a Name?3 Challenge (food)
In this book we are introduced to Kisa Sohma, who is the tiger. She enters the story when Tohru and Yuki are walking home and come across a drenched Haru carrying something in a blanket. The bundle turns out to be a baby tiger, Kisa in animal form, and Tohru squeals “What a cute kitty!” in delight. The “cute kitty” shows her how much she wants to be around people by chomping down on Tohru’s hand. As it turns out, Kisa has run away from the Sohma house because she’s being made fun of at school. She refuses to talk, and bites Tohru every time she tries to comfort her. But Tohru’s persistance and kindness brings the girl around, and her explosive, “I LOVE YOU!!” accompanied by a warm, long hug turns her into a big sister in Kisa’s eyes. Tohru’s past healing affection for Yuki, Kyo and Haru move them to compassion for Kisa and help her come out of her shell.
Other things in Fruits Basket, Volume 5 – Ayame… oh, Ayame! makes a visit, much to the consternation of both Kyo and Yuki, the latter telling his older brother he’d rather see him sink to the bottom of the lake than “bond” with him, to which Aaya replies, “I See! We’ll ALWAYS be together as brothers then!” LOL.. poor Yuki!
We meet Megumi, Hanajima’s little brother, when the Prince Yuki Fan Club girls visit “wave girl’s” house in an attempt to find Hanajima’s weakness so they can get her out of the way of their destroying Tohru. Megumi, like his sister, also has a power. He can use a person’s name to curse them. The girls run screaming from the strange siblings house in fear. It’s also revealed in this scene that Hana has been a bit jealous of the Sohmas for taking Tohru away but, unlike the Fan Club girls, she understands if you love someone, you have to be willing to let them have their own life and other friends and not try to possess them.
Fruits Basket, volume 5 by Natsuki Takaya is one of my favorite Furuba books so far. The characters are becoming more defined, and she’s relying more on the story and character interactions than on the slapstick shtick of the first couple books. Not that I don’t find it hilarious when Kyo flies off the handle at Yuki, and I LOVE it when the cat ears and tail come out… Mags and I always giggle about that… but it’s more of a life and friends story that I feel a sense of becoming a part of their world, which always makes the best books, whether they’re regular novels or manga and graphic novels. *sigh* I give Fruits Basket, Volume 5 5 out of 5 stars.
Filed under: Book Reviews, Manga Challenge, What's in a Name?3 | Tagged: animal spirit, Ayame, Chinese Zodiac, curse, dysfunctional family, friendship, Fruits Basket, furuba, Hanajima, Japan, Japanese, kindness, Kisa, Kyo, love, manga, Manga Challenge, Megumi, possessed, Prince Yuki Fan Club, Shigure, shojo, shojo manga, Tohru Honda, Yuki |
In the Shadow of Mt. TBR 
Everyone raves about this seires and it does look cute. I must check it out despite being a little intimidated by the long manga series!
I know what you mean about starting the longer series. I think that’s part of why I’ve never picked up Bleach. My goodness! That series took up two shelves in the bookstore! Fruits Basket is really cute, and if you like the sweet, funny/romance shojo type of manga, you can’t overlook it. It’s definitely a girl’s manga, though I think some guys could read it, but American guys might not because of the whole homophobic thing. Furuba does blur gender lines. I mean, look at Momiji! He wears GIRL CLOTHES, right down to the maryjane shoes and earrings and nail polish because he “wants to be pretty”. And Ayame is another one that bends gender perception.
I’ve tried manga, but it’s just not for me. I know my nephew loves this series.
I like graphic novels, but I haven’t yet tried a Manga. Sounds cute.
I had no idea a Manga challenge existed. Our mother’s helper loves to read Manga. I’ll have to let her know of this challenge and the website.
[…] Fruits Basket, Volume 5 by Natsuki Takaya ~ I love the Furuba series, and volume 5 introduced Kisa, the tiger, and Hanajima’s little brother. I gave it 5 stars. It counted as a food title for my What’s In a Name?3 Challenge, Manga Challenge, and POC Reading Challenge. […]