In the book Vanished by Sheela Chari, a girl named Neela gets one of her grandmother’s veenas (an Indian instrument ). The one Neela gets is her favorite one. Guess what Neela’s favorite snack is? (Hint: it is not an Indian type of food). If you guessed potato chips you are correct!
Neela brings her new veena to school when they are learning about instruments around the world, when her frenemy Amanda Bones is suddenly interested in her veena. Amanda is asking Neela if her mother can borrow it. When Neela goes to an art lesson at the church, a strange man asks her to have hot chocolate with him. While Neela is talking with this strange man, someone steals her veena!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like this book because Sheela Chari baised this story about her niece, Neela and a little about herself. I Skyped with Sheela Chari, and she played her veena for me. It sounds sooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think this book is a great learning tool, because I am learning about India and Indian cultures. Neela’s grandmother, Lalitha Patti, lives in Chennai, India.