Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper

Year Published: 1994
Publisher: Alladin
ISBN: 0-689-80698-1
Pages: 180p.
Classification: Fiction
Media Type: Book
Interest Level:9-12
Age Level: 5
Subjects: African American, Death, High School
Reader's Annotation: Andy Jackson faces the terrible loss of his friend, Rob Washington, while he was driving under the influence during an automobile accident.

Summary: Hazelwood High basketball celebrates their post game victory by drinking alcohol. The night ends with a fatal crash, killing Robert Washington. Andy Jackson, the driver, tries to deal with the terrible loss of Rob in his junior year. He goes through to a lot of remorse, guilt and depression that drives him to commit suicide. The book aims to teach lessons about teen issues such as peer pressure, drug and alcohol abuse, death, depression and suicide. It is a very loaded book. Adult guidance should be given to readers and facilitate discussions for a deeper appreciation of the literature. This is highly recommended book.

Author Information: Sharon M. Draper was born in Ohio August 21, 1948. She earned a B.A. from Pepperdine University and a M.A. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Ms. Draper taught junior high and high school students for more than thirty years. She is a public speaker who addresses educational and literary groups of all ages, both nationally and internationally.

Ms. Draper was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award in 1998 for Forged By Fire and in 2007 for Copper Sun. She received the Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2004 for Battle Of Jericho and in 2008 for November Blues. The author and her husband reside in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Author: www.sharondraper.com