Fruits Basket's is defiantly one of those rare shoujo mangas that appear once in a while.
Well thought out; not wasting time on scenarios that don't develop the plot or characters; and a satisfying journey from start to end.

Story: 10
You only really realise near the end that everything in Fruits Basket was planned from the start, and including a lot of foreshadowing in the beginning. I find this rare in a shoujo, as I find that the managka's appear to be making it up as they go along.
I started reading this manga at a young age, and found it to represent a journey through youth for both the characters and myself. Life lessons that get you through every day, and lessons for the incredibly hard times.
I'll admit that I cry like a baby when something like a tragedy happens, but I never expected for me to shed tears over only words alone. That's how brilliant the dialog is.

Art: 8
Well, this was my first manga ever, so admittedly the art seemed amazing back then. However, it's not that great at all. The beginning especially but it does improve dramatically.
However the strength of the art lies in what it conveys without words. Emotions and events can be summarised by just a page of drawings. Words would lose meaning there; it's perfect as it is.
Although the characters can be hard to tell apart like clones, and limbs seem to be slim and unrealistic, it has great strength in other aspects.

Character: 10
Another strength of Fruits Basket. They have their interesting quirks in the beginning, which gel well together for good humour. And while I find quirks the best aspect in characters - especially in large casts - what makes them fantastic is that they grow and mature. This makes them seem human. Nothing is black and white, and Fruits Basket shows the grey sides of people better than most shoujos I've ever read.

Enjoyment: 10
It's long. 23 volumes long. But it grips you to keep reading. It's not one of those shoujos that continues on forever with random plots and characters. Everything is meaningful, and no chapter is wasted. I have an incredibly short attention span and I finished it, which defiantly counts for something.

Overall: 10
Perfect for those who have lost faith in originality in shoujo.