HarperCollins Children’s Books stated in an email sent on Wednesday to trade media, including PW, that Dark and Darker Still, a collection of short stories for middle grade readers by J.A. White and illustrated by Ysng Jialun that was scheduled for release on September 2, has been postponed. “We kindly ask that you retract Dark and Darker Still from any review consideration and delete from your virtual book portals, if applicable,” the email said.
HarperCollins did not explain why it postponed the release of this latest read by White, a 2014 PW Flying Start pick who writes fantastical and hair-raising tales for middle grade readers, including the Thickety and the Shadow School series; his 2018 novel, Nightbooks, was made into a 2021 film by Netflix. But the news comes as no surprise to the residents of Glen Ridge, N.J., as the man they know as Gerald White, 51, a fifth-grade teacher at Ridgewood Avenue Elementary School, has been accused by a local family of grooming a student there since she was 11. He also is accused of sexually harassing the child, who is now 15 and in high school. According to the Montclair Local, a tort notice was filed on May 12 by attorney Justin Drazin of Drazin and Warshaw P.C. alleging that White groomed and sexually harassed the student from 2021 to March of this year. Drazin’s clients, who are the child and her family, intend to sue the Glen Ridge public school district and demand $10 million in damages, alleging that school staff were aware of White’s inappropriate behavior. The child is identified only as MOC in court documents.
“What began with handwritten notes and early morning meetings escalated into years of inappropriate emails, texts, voice memos, and obsessive messages, including requests for photos and romantic references involving the child,” Drazin stated in a release posted on the law firm’s website.
“There should be serious concern as to why this grotesque behavior was not brought to the attention of local law enforcement sooner,” Drazin added. “One can only wonder if this inappropriate and alleged behavior toward my client is an isolated event. It is our sincere hope that White did not prey on other young students.” The Glen Ridge school district initially, in late April, placed White on a leave of absence for the remainder of the school year, but on May 13, the school board voted to accept White’s resignation.
Glen Ridge Schools has 90 days to respond to the tort claim filed by Drazin if there is not a settlement negotiated by then between the parties.
As of Thursday morning, White’s social media accounts, except for Goodreads, were either locked or removed.
Neither White nor his agent, Alexandra Machinist at ICM Partners, nor HarperCollins Children’s Books have responded to PW’s requests for comment other than the emailed notice that his latest book has been postponed.
This article has been updated.
