What is the theme of Tears of a Tiger?

The theme of this novel is guilt and the way people can deal with emotions caused by traumatic events. Andy Jackson, who is 17 and is on the Hazelwood High School basketball team, accidentally kills his friend, Robbie Washington, who was the captain of the team. Andy was driving drunk when the accident took place. 

While the other people in the car survive, Robbie doesn't, and Andy can't get over his friend's death. Andy tries to go back to playing basketball and becomes the captain of the team, but he is overcome by guilt and depression. He sees a psychologist, but he doesn't realize that he can ask others for help until it's too late and depression has enveloped him. He decides to kills himself. The other members of the team deal with their grief about Robbie and later about Andy in different ways. For example, B.J. turns to religion, while other friends react with anger to Andy's suicide. At the end of the novel, Andy's brother Monty visits his grave and says he's not going to cry anymore, wanting to become like Andy. The theme of the book is that people have to find a way to deal with tragedy and guilt and that simply denying their emotions doesn't work. Instead, the author emphasizes that people need to seek help when they are struggling emotionally.

What's a theme in Tears of a Tiger that can be illustrated?

How about using the theme of suicidal thoughts and actions?  This is most definitely a theme in Tears of a Tiger.  I will fully explain this theme (as well as give you some examples) and then I will suggest a few possible pictures you could draw to represent this theme.

It is the character of Andy, of course, who commits suicide.  This should surprise the reader.  However, if you look at the buildup of despair in Andy's feelings, the foreshadowing becomes a bit more clear.  The actual suicide scene is described fairly vividly in the "Facts Without Feelings" police report.  Further, students turn on the grief counselor when Andy's death is not prevented.  The letters of the different students to Andy really show their grief and anger, one by one.  The letter written by Tyrone is a good example, taking the tone of great regret. Gerald's letter is more bitter and brings up lots of unanswered questions.  Rhonda's is the most thought provoking, of course, because it struggles to find the meaning behind the seemingly pointless death.  These letters are the most important in regard to the theme of suicide.  Here are a few examples to use as primary source quotes:

Do you know what courage is? I guess you don't. Do you know that the courage it took at that moment - to actually blow yourself away - was more than enough courage to keep on living?

Go ahead and cry, Andy. Don't be afraid of those tears. Sometimes they help to wash the soul clean.

But I'll always love you, and I'll always miss you and I'll never forget that It's okay to put dragons in the jungle and tears on a tiger.

Of course, more than just the taking of the life, Andy's suicide affects all the people he knows and causes much grief and anger among family and friends.  His little brother, Monty, is greatly affected and, further, the parents separate. Truly suicide has devastating effects.

Finally, let's approach a few ways you could draw the theme of suicide.  I would suggest drawing the suicide scene from "Facts Without Feelings," and then following it up with a portrait of each character, showing how each of their faces look as he/she writes his/her letter to Andy.  In these ways, you could vividly depict the theme.