Riley and Dashawn have been friends since they were three.

They got into skateboarding together and have advanced to the point where it's time to create a Sponsor Me tape. They bring a third skater along, Natasha, and try to get some good clips around a new office development. Then the police storm into the lot. The three skaters quickly scatter, trying their best not to get busted. Riley and Natasha arrive at the meet-up spot. They wait and wait, but Dashawn never shows.

The next day Riley visits Dashawn, only to discover that the police have given him a “beat-down.” Nothing like this has ever happened before, and for Riley it is a wake-up call that whether they know it or not, not everyone lives in the same world he does.

Jeff Ross is an avid rider of boards. If you can stand sideways on something and propel yourself forward, backward and/or sideways, then sign him up. He spent his formative years standing sideways on a board in Thornbury, Ontario, and now stands sideways on boards in Ottawa, Ontario, where he teaches Scriptwriting and English at Algonquin College. More information can be found at www.jeffrossbooks.com.

Jeff Ross' profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"A good read...Highly recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"At the heart of this high-interest low-vocabulary title is an edgy exploration of racism and its consequences and impacts. Ross examines the abuse of power, in this case attributed to the police officers, and the fear and anger that results when these abuses are not addressed. A Dark Truth is a powerful and emotional story."

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