Vanished

Chari's first novel starts off slowly, but readers will soon be invested in 11-year-old Neela Krishnan's desperate search for her missing veena, a four-foot-tall Indian stringed instrument that dates to the 11th century. Neela's grandmother, who lives in India, sends her a veena that may be a rare "Guru original," carved with a lucky dragon symbol. When a mysterious man lures Neela into a church and the veena disappears, her superstitious mother believes the instrument was not stolen but cursed, vanishing in an attempt to return to its rightful owner. Nevertheless, Neela is wracked with guilt and passionate about recovering the instrument that both inspires her and diminishes her intense stage fright. She collects some clues%E2%80%94a dragon tea kettle, a fellow student's unusual behavior, a menacing note, a connection to a late musician%E2%80%94that lead her all the way from Boston to India to find the truth. Indian history and culture (musical and otherwise), well-observed family and friendship dynamics, and elements of fate, luck, and tradition bring depth this quiet but enthralling mystery. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. (Aug.)