When the Real Monsters Are Online
What The Mauled Mage can teach us about bullying in the digital age
Australia, and no doubt throughout the world, is facing a bullying crisis that has outgrown the playground and taken root in the digital world. According to a recent ABC News investigation by Alison Branley, the level of distress among children aged 10–14 from school bullying has now surpassed that recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The data from Kids Helpline paints a bleak picture: children as young as ten are reporting both in-person and online abuse, often accompanied by severe emotional distress and, in some cases, thoughts of suicide. Meanwhile, the eSafety Commissioner reports a 456 % surge in cyberbullying complaints over the past five years. Nearly half involve children under 13.
It’s not just name-calling anymore. Today’s bullying includes image-based abuse, deepfake pornography, and digital exclusion. Schools struggle to respond when the cruelty unfolds on social platforms after hours, leaving many parents and children caught in a devastating loop of blame and helplessness.
“They told me that it’s happening outside of school, so it’s not their problem.” Serena Ford, mother of 16-year-old bullying victim Charlie Ford, ABC News
Despite two decades of anti-bullying policies, the Australian Child Maltreatment Study found no meaningful improvement across generations. Experts like Dr Charlotte Keating and Tracy Adams say we’re failing to teach empathy, kindness, and digital ethics—the core ingredients that shape how young people treat one another online.
When Fiction Opens the Door to Understanding
This is exactly why I wrote The Mauled Mage, a gripping edufictional adventure designed to help young readers explore the emotional reality of bullying through relatable characters and story-driven learning.
In the book, Beam and Bindi uncover the online torment of their quiet classmate Lee, whose experiences mirror what so many children face today. Their investigation leads them into a world of courage, betrayal, and self-discovery, blending mystery and heart with a clear moral compass: understanding the impact of cruelty and the power of standing together.
What makes The Mauled Mage different from a typical school resource is its emotional gateway. It allows readers to feel the experience of online bullying before analysing it. By entering the story world, learners can reflect safely and empathetically—without being directly exposed to harm or judgment.
Guided Conversations that Matter
The Mauled Mage comes with an Education Guide—a comprehensive tool for parents, teachers, and librarians to unpack difficult themes through chapter questions and creative, lesson-plan-ready zero-tech activities based on the plot of The Mauled Mage.
These include role-plays, empathy circles, decision wheels, and scenario cards that allow children to explore:
What makes a bystander powerful
How to seek help from trusted adults
Why kindness is a form of digital courage
What makes a cyberbully bully
How teamwork can break the cycle of cruelty
Together, the novella and guide offer a framework for talking about what really hurts, in a way that empowers young readers instead of overwhelming them.
From Newsroom to Classroom
The ABC’s findings remind us that policy alone won’t heal the silent wounds left by bullying. What we need are stories that speak to children in their own language, stories that turn empathy into action.bThe Mauled Mage and its Education Guide invite parents, educators, and young learners to step into that conversation, through the safe ground of age-equivalent characters who face, question, and ultimately rise above cruelty.
Because when the monsters are online, courage, compassion, and understanding become the real magic.
Learn more about The Mauled Mage and its Education Guide here: https://www.casperpieters.com/bindiandbeam
You can order both directly from this website — and the paperback price already includes free shipping!
