Waiting on Wednesday: Vanished by Sheela Chari

For this week, I'm choosing a Middle Grade book by one of the Elevensies. A week ago, I've decided to review not only YA novels but also Middle Grade and graphic novels from time to time. I got inspired by the child-like and wondrous perspective of MG novels. Plus, the covers are cuter.

Book Description from Disney Hyperion Catalogue:

Eleven-year-old Neela dreams of being a famous musician, performing for admiring crowds on her traditional Indian stringed instrument. Her particular instrument was a gift from her grandmother—intricately carved with a mysterious-looking dragon.

When this special family heirloom vanishes from a local church, strange clues surface: a tea kettle ornamented with a familiar pointy-faced dragon, a threatening note, a connection to a famous dead musician, and even a legendary curse. The clues point all the way to India, where it seems that Neela’s instrument has a long history of vanishing and reappearing. Even if Neela does track it down, will she be able to stop it from disappearing again?

Sheela Chari’s debut novel is a finely tuned story of coincidence and fate, trust and deceit, music and mystery.

My Thoughts:
 
I've been waiting for the cover of Vanished for a long time. I've always wondered what it was gonna be like. I certainly didn't expect the cover to be like this - I expected it to be a bit darker. But nevertheless, the premise sounds great! Seems like there's a whole lot of culture and mystery in the novel.