Beyond words

Like the novel itself, the exegesis builds on and contributes to work in bibliotherapy. My novel , by creating fictional characters, predominantly addresses cyberbullying as well as modern teenage issues including disordered eating, self-harm, suicide and depression. My novel is aimed at a Young Adult Fiction audience including the adolescent virtual culture. Although studies in bibliotherapy have examined the therapeutic benefits of YAF the artefact provides additional insights into cyberbullying, the preventative and/or therapeutic benefits for adolescents regarding the rapidly emerging social problem of cyberbullying, online social networking, texting, sexting and teenage language, both slang and digital. The exegesis provides additional insights into cyberbullying by entering into scholarly discussion on adolescent digital behaviours and modern teenage issues.