Midsummer Mini Critics Club
Giving young readers a voice
Our mini critics
At Midsummer Books, we believe the best book recommendations come from kids themselves.
The Mini Critics Club is our way of giving young readers a voice—inviting them to share what they love, what they couldn’t put down, and what other kids should read next.
What's a mini critic?
🏆 Mini Critic Perks
✨ A sticker for every review
✨ Bookmarks and small surprises
✨ Featured in-store and online
✨ Helping other kids discover their next favorite book
Reading isn’t just about finishing books; it’s about sharing them.
When kids recommend books to each other, it not only strengthens literacy, it helps kids feel more connected to the books and each other!
Every kid I’ve ever met has an opinion (usually more than one). We want to create a space that celebrates that. Think of it as a recommendation community built by kids, for kids.
Because while I might love a book from an adult perspective, I can’t experience it the same way a tween, teen, or young reader does. That’s why peer recommendations matter.
Here's how it works. Every teen, tween, and young reader is invited to share a book review for a book they recently read, just finished, or have loved for years. Then simply:
1. Share your unfiltered review via in-store crit card, or send in a video or full review post
2. Get featured!
We will collect and share reviews on our shelves, on our blog, and across our social channels.
The different channels for participation:
📝 In the Shop: fill out a Mini Critics review card, we will double-check it for readability and then display the recommendation on our shelves
🎥 Video Reviews: Create a short video about a book you loved, why you loved it and why others must read it too! Send it to us via DM or tag @midsummer_books on instagram (videos can be voiceover with just the cover, no one needs to share their face unless they want to)
✍️ Blog Reviews (for older readers): Submit a longer review to be featured on our site. Once we edit and upload it, we will provide a link you can share with your peers, family members, teachers, and even your resume/portfolio.