‘Grimstink’ by Daniel Peak
Big Book Award 2026 shortlisted title:
Alien Grimstink has travelled 90,000 light years to annihilate all life on Earth. Thirteen-year-old Layla Tenby has travelled half a mile to deliver leaflets for affordable fence panels.
But, when they suddenly swap places, Grimstink finds himself battling traffic wardens and the subway sandwich ordering system, while Layla is zapped to a strange planet and left fighting for the future of the galaxy whether she wants to or not (spoiler: she does not want to).
Is Reece, Layla’s annoying younger brother, key to the galaxy’s survival, or will his friendship with new bestie Grimstink lead them all to impending doom?
From black holes to shopping precincts; from mining satellites to old people’s homes; from quantum spaceships to the middle aisle of Aldi… Is this the end of all life on Planet Earth or the beginning of a beautiful friendship?
Published by Firefly Press
The Big Book Award 2026 Longlist Reading Panel of children from Rushbury CofE Primary School said…
“It’s 100% hilarious and awesome.”
“Everyone should read this book because everyone needs a good chuckle.”
“Gripping and intense.”
About the author
Daniel Peak is a BAFTA, RTS and International Emmy Award-winning TV scriptwriter. He co-writes BBC1’s Not Going Out with Lee Mack, created and wrote three series of Sky TV’s Code 404 and was part of the writing team on CBBC’s Horrible Histories. His first novel, Little Horror, won the 2023 James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award. Grimstink is his second.
Daniel lives in Stockport with his wife, two daughters, a dog, two cats and a gerbil.
Pupils taking part in Book Award 2026 are invited to post their comments and reviews below. (All comments will be moderated by Bookfest before they’re published.)
14 responses to “‘Grimstink’ by Daniel Peak”
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At start of the Grimstink it was really confusing at page 20 to 30 but it was getting interesting at page 70, I really like the way how Grimstinck changed his name into Paul. 9/10
although I myself didn’t enjoy the books obvious humour I feel that other 9-11 year olds will enjoy it
Weird, strange, and good book.
Not my kind of book. It didn’t really make sense at some points. I didn’t like it.☹️
10/10 🙂
This is the best book I have read in my LIFE!!!
Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo funny and exciting.
I really liked Grimstink and I would rate it a 7/10⭐😊
I like how it’s like a mysteries world with made up crystals for the teleportation and overall 7/10
I did not like the start of Grimstink because it was confusing but at page 150 it got better. 7/10 😊❤️
I didn’t really like Grimstink at all. It was very strange, the way it switches between characters was very confusing. One star. ⭐
Our children have said that Grimstink is: “Grimstink is up and down, the story is always changing. It is really good!” and ” You need to read Grimstink, it is really funny!”
I didn’t really enjoy it was quite strange and random?
It was really 2/5 stars
I haven’t read the full book yet but it hasn’t really impressed me so far. The way the crystals made them swap planets wasn’t really explained and I’m trying to get my head around it. And the fact that the chapters switch between the characters gets really confusing at points. Overall 2/5 ⭐⭐.
I am very near the end of Grimstink. I thought it wouldn’t be my kind of book because it looked sort of silly. But I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I didn’t absolutely love it, but it did make me laugh. I’m wondering if Grimstink will stay on Earth? 🙂
I like it because it was exciting and I didn’t know what would happen next.