After her mother’s death, high school student Tohru Honda moves into a tent in the woods to avoid burdening her grandfather. She discovers her temporary campsite sits on the private land of the Sohma family, who house her classmate Yuki. When the volatile Kyo Sohma arrives, Tohru accidentally triggers a long-standing family curse: members of the Sohma lineage transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac when hugged by the opposite sex. Tohru becomes a secret resident of their household, navigating their supernatural constraints and internal family hierarchies.
This volume serves readers interested in shoujo manga that combines domestic comedy with traditional folklore. Those who follow the series find a study of loneliness and the psychological impact of social isolation within a rigid family unit. The reader learns the specific mechanics of the Sohma curse and how physical contact functions as a barrier to intimacy for the characters. By the end, the audience understands the foundations of the rivalry between the cat and the rat within the context of the Zodiac legend.
Inward-looking and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1999
- Language
- EN
