Summary of “Nethergrave” by Gloria Skurzynski
“Nethergrave” by Gloria Skurzynski is a science fiction story that follows a boy named Jeremy, who finds solace in an online virtual reality game called "The Nethergrave." Jeremy is socially isolated and unhappy in his real life, so he escapes into the game where he can be whoever he wants and have adventures.
One day, Jeremy receives a message from a girl named Cyberspace2005, who warns him that the Nethergrave is not what it seems. She tells him that it is a trap created by a scientist named Dr. James Bentham, who wants to lure kids into the virtual world so he can experiment on them and steal their bodies.
Initially skeptical, Jeremy ignores Cyberspace2005's warning and continues to immerse himself in the game, where he has made friends and feels accepted. However, as he spends more time in the Nethergrave, Jeremy starts to notice strange occurrences, such as characters disappearing and the environment becoming more dangerous.
Finally, Jeremy decides to heed Cyberspace2005's warning and attempts to log out of the game. However, even though he follows the exact instructions she gives him, he realizes that he is unable to exit the virtual world. Confused and frightened, Jeremy comes to the realization that Cyberspace2005 was telling him the truth.
Desperate to escape the dangerous game, Jeremy manages to contact Cyberspace2005 again, who reveals her real name to be Doris. Together, they try to find a way to free themselves from the Nethergrave. Eventually, Doris reveals that she has found a secret program within the game that allows them to escape.
Using the program, Jeremy and Doris successfully log out of the Nethergrave and return to the real world. Jeremy learns an important lesson about the dangers of relying too heavily on online worlds and realizes the importance of real-life connections and interactions.
In the end, Jeremy decides to take a break from the virtual world and focus on building relationships and finding happiness in the real world.