How to Read Desmond Cole: Real-Life Activism vs. Fictional Ghost Hunting
When searching for a Desmond Cole reading order, readers often run into a major point of confusion. There are actually two entirely different subjects associated with this name. The first is Desmond Cole, the prominent Canadian journalist, activist, and author of the bestselling non-fiction book The Skin We're In. The second is the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series, a highly popular collection of children's chapter books about a young ghost-hunter named Desmond Cole, written by author Andrés Miedoso.
To make this guide as practical and comprehensive as possible, we have broken down both paths. Below, you will find the chronological reading path for the Canadian journalist's real-life articles, documentaries, and books, followed by the complete, up-to-date reading order for the fictional children's mystery series.
The Non-Fiction Works of Desmond Cole (Journalist & Activist)
For readers looking to dive into the work of Canadian journalist Desmond Cole, his bibliography spans across cover essays, national newspaper columns, an award-winning documentary, and a bestselling debut book. Because his activism and writing are deeply intertwined, the best way to read his work is in chronological order. This path allows you to trace the evolution of his investigative reporting and the personal experiences that shaped his fight against systemic racism in Canada.
1. "The Skin I'm In" (2015 Essay)
Your journey should start with Cole's groundbreaking cover story for Toronto Life magazine, published in April 2015. Titled "The Skin I'm In," this deeply personal and investigative essay chronicled his experience of being stopped and carded by the Toronto police over 50 times. The essay was a major cultural catalyst in Ontario, igniting a heated national debate on racial profiling and earning Cole three National Magazine Awards. Reading this first provides the essential context for all of his subsequent work.
2. The Toronto Star Columns (2015–2017)
Following the massive success of his essay, Cole became a regular columnist for the Toronto Star. Over the next two years, he wrote dozens of columns tackling police carding, systemic discrimination, class struggles, and urban politics in Toronto. This era is crucial to understanding Cole's transition from a standard reporter to a full-time activist. The run concluded in May 2017 when Cole chose to resign after editors criticized his public protest at a Toronto Police Services Board meeting, citing policies against journalists engaging in direct activism.
3. "The Skin We're In" (2017 CBC Documentary)
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Charles Officer, this CBC Firsthand documentary features Cole as he travels across Canada to explore the systemic nature of anti-Black racism beyond Toronto. The documentary acts as a visual bridge between his early essays and his eventual book, and was nominated for the Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards.
4. "The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power" (2020 Book)
Cole's debut book is the centerpiece of his work. While published in 2020, the book is structured month-by-month to chronicle the events of a single, pivotal year: 2017. Throughout the chapters, Cole documents specific Canadian events—from the police beating of Dafonte Miller to protests against the Canada 150 celebrations—to dismantle the myth of Canadian post-racial exceptionalism. It became a national bestseller and won the 2020 Toronto Book Award.
5. "My Mother Was My Critic" (2025 Essay)
For a look at Cole's more recent writing, seek out his personal essay in The Walrus. Published in 2025, "My Mother Was My Critic" offers a reflective, intimate look at his relationship with his mother and his journey as a writer, showcasing a softer, introspective side to his prose.
The Fictional "Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol" Series (by Andrés Miedoso)
If you are actually looking for the children's chapter books, you are tracking the adventures of a fictional eight-year-old boy named Desmond Cole who lives in the haunted town of Kersville and runs a ghost-hunting business with his best friend, Andres Miedoso. Because these books build upon character introductions and the lore of Kersville, it is highly recommended to read them in publication order. Below is the complete order of the books in the series:
- The Haunted House Next Door (Book 1)
- Ghosts Don't Ride Bikes, Do They? (Book 2)
- Surf's Up, Creepy Stuff! (Book 3)
- Night of the Zombie Zookeeper (Book 4)
- The Scary Library Shusher (Book 5)
- Major Monster Mess (Book 6)
- The Sleepwalking Snowman (Book 7)
- Campfire Stories (Book 8)
- Now Museum, Now You Don't (Book 9)
- Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun (Book 10)
- Escape from the Roller Ghoster (Book 11)
- Beware the Werewolf (Book 12)
- The Vampire Ate My Homework (Book 13)
- Who Wants I Scream? (Book 14)
- The Bubble Gum Blob (Book 15)
- Mermaid You Look (Book 16)
- A Troll Lot of Trouble (Book 17)
- The Show Must Demon! (Book 18)
- Never a Doll Moment (Book 19)
- Time to Clown Around (Book 20)
- The Witch Get Witcher (Book 21)
- I'm Your Biggest Phantom (Book 22)
- Hold on to Your Heads! (Book 23)
- Night Night, Sweet Screams (Book 24)
- Double Creature Feature (Book 25)
- Beast Mode Unleashed (Book 26)
- The Big Brain Storm (Book 27)
- A.I. Told You So (Book 28)
Practical Reader Advice
If you are reading the activist Desmond Cole, start with his 2015 Toronto Life essay "The Skin I'm In" before moving to his 2020 book. The essay acts as the foundation and introduces the central themes of systemic policing issues that he expands on in the book. If you are introducing a young reader to the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol children's series, always start with Book 1, The Haunted House Next Door, as it introduces how Desmond and Andres met and why they started their ghost patrol business. While the individual mysteries in the kids' books can technically stand alone, the recurring characters and settings make reading them in order far more satisfying.