Written in 1994 by Sharon M. Draper, Tears of a Tiger incorporates various modes of writing, including personal essays, newspaper articles (formal writing), journal entries, and conversations to convey the story of a teenage boy’s descent into grief, guilt, and suicidal ideation following a car crash in which he, as the driver, causes the death of a good friend. The novel explores the importance of mental health in high school students, the effects of drunk driving, and the interlocking challenges of grief, guilt, and mourning. Draper also addresses racism in the school system, illustrating opinions from both teachers and students about the expectations of non-white students in the classroom. For her work on Tears of a Tiger, Draper won the Coretta Scott King award—an award given to Black authors who write or illustrate books that reflect their culture or universal values.

This guide refers to the Simon Pulse 1996 paperback edition of the novel.

Content Warning: This guide discusses the topics of teenage mental health, teen suicide, grief, and racism.

Plot Summary

The Hazelwood High School basketball team wins their game, and several team members go out to celebrate. Andy Jackson, Robbie Washington, and Tyrone Mills celebrate by drinking, then Andy plans to drive them to their significant others’ houses. During the drive, Andy loses control of the car and crashes into a wall; he, Tyrone, and B.J. Carson escape the vehicle, but Robbie is still in the car. Though the boys try to rescue him, they are unsuccessful, and Robbie dies on the scene. Word of the accident spreads among the student body. Andy returns to school and to the basketball team under the condition that he attends therapy sessions with an outside counselor.

In his therapy sessions, Andy talks to Dr. Carrothers, a Black therapist who often relates to Andy’s experiences. Although Andy claims not to need therapy, Dr. Carrothers convinces him to attend a few more sessions. At school, Andy falls behind. He dissociates from his surroundings and lacks interest in the events of his life, including the holidays. He also writes a poem expressing his experience with depression but does not turn in the assignment. Andy focuses on Robbie and his death, even going so far as to worry that Robbie will be cold in the cemetery. Consumed by guilt, he cannot forgive himself for the accident and claims that he should have died instead of Robbie. Accordingly, Andy’s therapy sessions become darker and more focused on the deeper feelings that he is fighting—his fixation with death and his growing belief that he should be dead. At night, he dreams about Robbie telling him to hurry up and die so they can play basketball together. At the suggestion of Dr. Carrothers, he writes a letter to Robbie’s family about the good times he spent with Robbie that he will always treasure and ends the letter by asking for their forgiveness. Robbie’s parents visit Andy and express forgiveness, though Mr. Washington struggles during the interaction.

As Andy’s grades and school behavior continue to worsen, his friends and teachers become concerned. His teachers call home, and his friends try to find more help for him, but the school counselor does not have any further resources to offer. One day, when Andy checks in on his younger brother, Monty, who is doing his coloring homework, he notices that Monty has drawn a tiger with tears and tells him that that’s okay, because tigers are allowed to cry. Meanwhile, Andy’s girlfriend Keisha can no longer stand the strain that Andy’s depression has on their relationship and breaks up with him. He feels himself slipping even more and reaches out to Keisha, Dr. Carrothers, and his basketball coach, hoping for help, but no one is available.

The next day at school, Andy is absent; his friends notice, but this has become normal for him. This time, however, instead of attending school that day, Andy dies by suicide, for he is no longer able to cope with the pain of living with his guilt. Grief counselors come to Hazelwood High School, and Andy’s friends challenge them, asking where they were before Andy’s death. There are now signs all over the school advertising help for anyone who is grieving, but none of this helps Andy. Nobody understands why Andy chose to end his own life, but everyone hopes that he is resting peacefully. His brother visits his grave and says a final farewell.