Don't Make Me Smile Books in Order

The books grouped under the Don’t Make Me Smile banner follow Charlie Hickles, a boy who is trying to hang on through the messy business of divorce and remarriage. Park writes these stories with a light touch, but she does not dodge how angry and confused a kid can feel when family life suddenly changes.

In Don’t Make Me Smile, Charlie’s parents have just split up, and he is furious about almost everything. His dad is moving out, his mom is trying too hard, and he is expected to act as if everyone is being reasonable when nothing feels reasonable at all. The book tracks the small everyday ways divorce shows up, from awkward school events to holidays that no longer look the same. Charlie cracks jokes, sulks, and lashes out, and the narrative lets him have those big feelings without turning him into a villain.

The sequel, My Mother Got Married (And Other Disasters), picks up after Charlie’s mom has fallen in love again. From his point of view, her new husband, Ben, is one more disaster in a long list. Marriage means stepfamily, different routines, and a house that does not feel entirely his anymore. Charlie’s voice is full of sarcasm and sharp observation, but underneath he is trying to figure out what it means to belong in a newly blended family.

Together, the books build a picture of divorce that sits between the extremes. Charlie’s parents are not perfect, but they are not monsters either. They make mistakes, snap at each other, and sometimes expect too much from their son. They also show up, listen badly at first and better later, and keep trying to make things work.

The tone is very much in line with Park’s other middle grade novels. The chapters move quickly, there are plenty of laugh out loud details, and serious moments are often followed by something slightly ridiculous that keeps the story from getting too heavy. That mix lets readers who may be going through similar changes see themselves on the page without feeling preached at.

These books are a good fit for kids who like realistic stories about family life, especially readers dealing with separation, remarriage, or new step siblings. They show that it is possible to be angry and still love your family, to complain and still grow, and to eventually find a new normal that includes room for more than one kind of parent.