A Drunken Dream and Other Stories (2010)

The best way into the literary side of shojo manga. Fantagraphics gathered ten of Moto Hagio's stories, from "Bianca" in 1971 to "The Willow Tree" in 2007, so one hardcover shows how her storytelling changed over more than three decades. Read "Iguana Girl" first: Rika is an ordinary girl whose mother believes she is a monster, and the story works as a fable without ever explaining itself. "Hanshin: Half-God" is darker, a disturbing study of family pressure. The book also carries a long interview with Hagio and a historical essay by her translator, useful if you want context as well as the stories.