A mallet??!!
Seriously you're not alone, many youngsters go through it.
What is her bedtime routine? Has she been doing this long? Have there been any changes recently..new house, new baby, different school, is she being bullied...?
These can all upset what was a settled little girl. Have a chat and see if anything is worrying her, speak to her teacher to see if all is ok there.
If everything is ok, try a star chart. A small reward could be given for each night she settles without fuss (extra bedtime story, a favourite desert, etc) and a real treat at the end of a week (trip to McD's, cinema, etc) and plenty of praise.
Unfortuntely children also respond to the negative, so if you get up tight, she's still gettng your attention.!!
My mum tried a different tack when I was about 9. I was caught sitting on the stairs trying to watch the TV through an the lounge door...I was made to sit in the lounge (with the TV off)till she went to bed at about 11pm, then she dragged me out of bed at 6.30am to get ready for school!!! It worked...was falling asleep in class!! After that I aways went to bed when told!!!