Wreck This Journal Review: A Book Made to Be Ruined
Keri Smith's journal where every page gives an odd order: paint here, tear this out, take it outside. The full color edition, checked against the listing.
Yes, for a creative teen who gets bored on long afternoons. Every page has a prompt, so there is no scary blank first page [1]. Skip it for a teen who keeps their books spotless and would hate damaging one on purpose.
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated October 29, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Author | Keri Smith [1] |
| Publisher | Penguin Books [1] |
| Format | Paperback [1] |
| Pages | 224 [1] |
| Interior | Full color [1] |
| Size | 5.52 x 8.22 inches [1] |
| Published | June 2017 [1] |
Pros and cons
- Tidy teens may find it stressful
- Some prompts make a real mess
- Not a diary for private thoughts
Permission to make a mess
Most journals stay empty because the first page has to be perfect. Wreck This Journal flips that: the pages ask to be torn, painted and poked.
That makes it a good fit for teens who doodle in the margins of school notes, or who say they are bored every weekend. There is always a page waiting with something to do.
It also works for a teen who feels they are not artistic. Nobody grades a page that says to spill something on it.
The color edition, page by page
This is the full color edition of the book, published by Penguin in 2017 for the tenth anniversary of the original [1]. It runs to 224 pages in a paperback about the size of a school planner [1].
Inside are prompts for painting, shredding and transforming the book, with a mix of new, altered and favorite prompts from earlier editions [1].
The listing calls the original a ten million copy bestseller [1]. In practice that means many teens have seen finished copies online and know what the game is.
Who will hate it
Some people find it hard to rip a book. For a teen who keeps shelves tidy and books spotless, the whole idea can feel wrong.
A few prompts are messy for real, with paint, food or water. Parents who dread glitter on the carpet should know what they are buying.
It is also not a private diary. The pages are about doing, not writing feelings, so a teen who wants a lockable journal needs something else.
How to give it
Add a cheap set of markers or a glue stick, and the first pages are ready to go on Christmas afternoon. From this guide, the Instax Mini film is a natural pair, since a printed photo can go straight onto a page.
Write a short note inside the cover before you wrap it. It is the one book where writing in it first is the polite thing to do.
It suits siblings too. Two copies make it a contest to see whose book gets wrecked first.
FAQ
What age is Wreck This Journal for?
The publisher does not set a strict age, and the book is sold to teens and adults alike [1]. Some prompts involve paint, scissors or water, so it suits teens who can handle a little mess on their own. Younger kids can use it with help, but most fans are in middle school and up [1]
What is the difference between Wreck This Journal and the Now in Color edition?
The Now in Color edition is a full color version of the original book, published for its tenth anniversary [1]. It mixes new, altered and favorite prompts from earlier editions, so a teen who finished an old copy still gets new pages to work through [1]
Is Wreck This Journal a good gift for a teenager?
Yes, for a creative or easily bored teen. It is cheap, fits in a stocking and gives them something to do away from the phone on a slow holiday afternoon. Skip it for a teen who keeps books pristine, because the whole point is damaging this one [1]
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Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for the Wreck This Journal: Now in Color
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 29, 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.