Grade Level: 8th-9th
Review: In Tears of a Tiger, Sharon Draper tells a heart-wrenching story about a seventeen-year old boy named Andy who is scarred with grief and remorse after he inadvertently kills his best friend in a drunk driving accident. The novel follows Andy’s transformation post-accident, telling his story through personal letters, poems, and newspaper articles. This style of writing is often appealing to struggling readers. Draper’s novel, told in alternative viewpoints and written in short chapters, is filled with intense emotion and life lessons that are important to the age group the book is directed towards. This realistic fiction novel deals with death, grief, racial issues, dysfunctional families, and suicide. Tears of a Tiger brings awareness to social issues and helps assist students in understanding that they can take control over situations in their lives with the decisions they make. Although this novel has won many awards, it is evident that it is controversial in nature and may spark debates among parents or members of the community. This story is based on the subject of underage drinking and driving which may not be appreciated by readers or parents, yet the consequences of this action are graphically pointed out and the novel heavily explores the ramifications of it. By reading this novel, students are subjected to real problems faced by young people today. By talking about them in a safe environment, students are able to learn about these life lessons and how to avoid being part of the negative consequences.
Recommendation: Recommended
Byline: Chelsea R. Bland, Graduate Student, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.
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