Stinker from Space

Stinker #1

by Pamela F. Service

In the middle of an outerspace battle, space warrior Tsynq Yr is forced to land on earth and switch into the body of a skunk. But earth is no place for him. Thank goodness Karen stops by. With her computer-whiz friend Jonathan, the three of them hatch a hair-raising scheme involving all the local skunks and even the space shuttle to get their new friend back into orbit!

Genres: Science Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Young Adult, Aliens, Chapter Books

96 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 28, 1988

About the author

Born in Berkeley, California, Pamela F. Service grew up loving to hear, read, and tell stories - particularly about weird stuff. Pamela earned a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley followed by an MA in history and archaeology from the University of London.

She spent many years living in Bloomington, Indiana, writing, serving on the city council, and being curator of a history museum. She has a grown daughter, Alex, who is also a museum curator. Pamela is now living in Eureka, California, where she writes, works as a museum curator, and acts in community theater.

Reviews

[LadybugPJ]

There's probably nothing more amusing to both a sci-fi lover AND a pet skunk owner/lover then the following.

A description of a space-alien controlled skunk hijacking then commandeering a space shuttle then filling it with his newly acquired army of American skunks. The image of hundreds of skunks climbing into a space shuttle is going to amuse me for years.

5 Stars!

[John]

Yes, it was of course the title that grabbed me. I've read and enjoyed some of Service's work before -- although long enough ago that I now can't remember any details -- but when I recently saw this one for sale I simply had to have it.

The story's pretty simple. Tsynq Yr, an alien in flight from the evil empire, crashlands on earth. His mortal body is dying of its injuries, but luckily the people of his species have the ability to transfer their mind to a new body. He transfers into the body of the first intelligent creature to come his way . . . which just happens to be a skunk. Thereafter Tsynq Yr can't initially understand why the dominant lifeforms on this novel planet tend to react to his approaches with . . . wariness.

Yet he manages to make friends with Karen Blake and then her reluctant pal Jonathan Waldron, and between them the two kids and the skunk scheme to get Tsynq Yr back off the planet and out into the relative safety of outer space. Their plan seems simple: all they have to do to get it underway is hijack a space shuttle . . .

As you'll guess from the above, Pam Service has a fertile imagination and a lively sense of humor; at times I was reminded of Harry Harrison's work around the period he was writing things like Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers. I think I probably had a cheesy grin on my face all the while I was reading this (very short) book.

Recommended if you fancy an hour or so of diverting silliness, something I think we all need from time to time.

[Cheryl]

Cute fast-paced adventure. A little too much emphasis on boy-girl stuff (ie at one point the girl's mom is proud that the girl skipped milk on her cereal as 'too fattening'). But a good intro. to some SF themes for younger children.

[Jaime Dear]

Found this in the Little Free Library and was delighted by this book's charming sense of humor. I especially liked when the little girl packed lettuce for Stinker so he wouldn't get scurvy in space. The kids felt like KIDS with their own personalities.

10/10 horrible portrayal of NASA security.

[Beverly]

I remember that this was a very amusing story--the idea of an alien having to inhabit the body of a skunk to stay alive was quite funny.

[betanine]

While space, shuttles, and skunks take the forefront in the story, learning to find friendship with others who one might think have nothing to offer is the main point of the story.

The story is sprinkled with facts about skunks and space shuttles along with some funny lines. The writing has a number of words that challenge a preteen’s vocabulary. I like expanding vocabulary, but they felt out of place and difficult to navigate in places.

All that said, the boy really liked this story and we enjoyed the story.

[Jolynn Gardiner]

When I was in elementary school, this is the kind of book I would’ve loved. Now as an adult, I read it for a lark and actually enjoyed it. Is it the best book ever written? No way, but it made me smile and giggle and live in the glow of nostalgia for an hour or so. I enjoyed the experience.

[Bethany]

I honestly don't remember when I read this but I remember I read it and enjoyed it. I wonder if I should go back and reread or leave it as fond fuzzy memories.

[Jennifer Nash]

Cute little book for kids. I loved that the alien took over a skunks body.

[Angie Townsend]

I loved this book in elementary school, like 2nd-3rd grade. It's a very cute story and I always re-read it every time I could get my hands on it. Also, skunks are cool.

[Bridget]

Main character Karen continuously dreams about adventures in space. One day, her dreams come true when she is contacted by an alien that Karen calls Stinker. Karen wants to help Stinker return to his home, but with twists and turns along the way, it’s not as easy as she thought. An easy read for children, they will become engaged with the friendship formed between Karen and Stinker. It shows how friends can depend on and help each other.

[Ali]

During a battle in outer space, Tsynq Yr is injured, and is forced to come down to earth in the body of a skunk. There he meets a boy named Jonathan, and a girl named Karen. They become good friends. Karen and Jonathan have to help Tsynq Yr get back to outer space.
Will they be able to do it? Read the book to find out!

I really like this book. It is super cool. You have got to read this book if you haven't read it yet. This book is amazing!

[Kate Hastings]

When an alien crash-lands on Earth, he is forced to share a body with the first living thing he finds-- a skunk. This puts a damper on his mission: to contact intelligent life. For sone reason humans keep running away.

[Becky H.]

I read this as a young adult and loved it. An alien who crash lands on earth and has to transfer his mind to a skunk’s body (first creature he sees). He then gets the help from two children to return home to space. Fun book!

[Jean Doolittle]

A fun read for kids. The story is simple, but well put together with interesting characters, humor and a cohesive plot. There are twists to the story that make it a cut above average. I'll seek out the sequel.

[Kristina]

oh my goodness! look what I found at the library! I loved the creativity of this story and its one of those books that can help get a kid excited about science fiction. Will be reading it to my eldest!

[Roland]

A very charming short sci fi story for kids. An alien crash lands on Earth and takes over the body of a skunk, who then befriends a girl and attempts to rebuild his ship. It has some fun allusions to other sci fi stories and is a quick read.

[Jen]

2023 reread: I love this book so damn much

This was one of my favorite books from when I was a kid. I wanted a pet skunk so bad after this.
It's short and sweet and exciting (for child's chapter book standards). Very happy to re-experience it now :)

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer]

Cute! I should read the sequel.

[Naomi]

bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad my teacher made me read it worst book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hannah]

Complete fluff, but what fun! I almost want a skunk for a pet!

[Peter]

Ha, I Remember Reading This Book In Fourth Grade! It's A Nice Book For Beginners.

[Margaret]

Loved it. Funny - good "starter" sci-fi. Read it with a 6th grade group as a quick read when we only had a short time before break. The kids liked it too.

[Pandora]

One of the best sci-fi books written for young readers. Uses scientific facts and doesn't slip into being sci-fi junk.

[Janet]

Cute sci/fi book for children and young at heart adults. I read this book and its sequel, Stinker's Return, to my students. They love the peanut loving body changing alien/skunk.

[Arlene Allen]

Really a great high interest/low level "short" book for those reluctant readers.

[Sharon Garbe]

Great concept.

[LaRhonda]

It was a good story however it appears that the book was overly wordsmithed with a Thesaurus. It was a good challenge for my child.

[Eve]

my 6th grade teacher read this book to the class. a lot of the kids loved it. i thought it was kind of weird, but it was cute

[Cozy Reader Lady]

This was one of my favorite books between 2nd and 5th grade.