Just Between Us Journal Review: Will She Write Back?
A hardcover journal that a mom and daughter pass back and forth, with prompts, quizzes and two ribbon bookmarks. How it opens hard conversations, and the age it fits best.
Yes, for moms of tween and young teen daughters who want an easier way to talk. The prompts and mini quizzes open topics like friends, school and crushes without a sit-down talk [1], and each of you gets a ribbon bookmark [1]. Skip it for a grown daughter, since customers place it at ages eight to twelve [1].
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated November 3, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Publisher | Chronicle Books [1] |
| Format | Deluxe hardcover journal [1] |
| Pages | 144 [1] |
| Bookmarks | Two ribbons, one each [1] |
| Reading age | 8 to 12 years, from customers [1] |
| Size | 6.6 x 8.8 inches [1] |
| First published | 2010 [1] |
Pros and cons
- Gives a mom and daughter a private back-and-forth [1]
- Prompts and mini quizzes make it easy to start [1]
- Covers friends, school, crushes and growing up [1]
- Two ribbon bookmarks, one for each writer [1]
- Deluxe hardcover that lasts as a keepsake [1]
- Long running bestseller, in print since 2010 [1]
- Easy to wrap and cheap to add to a bigger gift
- Best for tweens and young teens [1]
- Only works if both people keep writing
- Written for moms, not dads
A conversation on paper
Talking to a tween can be hard face to face. A journal changes the setting: she writes when she wants, leaves it on your pillow, and you answer. Just Between Us is the original pass-back mother daughter journal [1].
The listing promises advice and perspectives from both generations [1], so it is not just questions for her; you answer too.
Prompts, quizzes and the hardcover
The pages mix writing prompts with mini quizzes, from what you thought the moment she was born to where she would go if she could go anywhere [1]. They pave the way to talking about friends, school, crushes and growing up [1].
It is a deluxe hardcover with illustrations and two ribbon bookmarks, one for each of you [1], at 144 pages [1].
The age window is real
Customers place it at ages eight to twelve [1]. A sixteen year old may find some prompts young, and a grown daughter will find it too young altogether.
It also needs both people to keep going. If one side stops, the journal sits on a shelf.
Starting it off right
Write the first entry before you give it. A note on the first page about why you chose it tells her this is not homework.
Pair it with a small treat from this guide: a Pura Vida bracelet or a tube of Summer Fridays balm. For a birthday, add the Jellycat Bashful Bunny.
FAQ
What age is Just Between Us for?
Customers on Amazon put Just Between Us: Mother & Daughter at reading ages eight to twelve [1], which makes it a tween journal at heart. Many moms start it around ten or eleven and keep passing it back into the early teens. For an older teen or adult daughter, a letter from you works better [1]
How does the Just Between Us journal work?
Mom and daughter take turns. One answers a prompt or quiz, marks the page with her own ribbon bookmark and leaves the journal for the other [1]. The other reads, writes back and passes it on. Just Between Us covers friends, school, crushes and growing up [1]
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Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for Just Between Us: Mother & Daughter journal
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on November 3, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
As an Amazon Associate, GiftX earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability change, so check Amazon for the current price.