Godzilla: A Junior Novelization

by H.B. Gilmour, Randi Reisfeld

"Look up and run for your life! On a deserted island far away, a blast from a nuclear bomb destroyed all life, Or did it? One lizard egg survived. Now, thirty years later, the effects of the radiaiton have mutated it into a mostrous giant lizard, as tall as a skyscraper. He is swift, agile, deadly-and determined to survive. They call him Gozilla. On the island of Manhattan, in New York City, four people-a scientist, a reporter, a camerman, and a mysterious stranger-must bank together to stop Godzilla. If they fail? Well, whoever said humans would rule foverver?

Genres: Science Fiction

71 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

H. B. Gilmour was a bestselling author of children's books. She grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with her mother and the extended family and fondly remembered writing her very first poem for Arbor Day when she was just eight years old. As a teenager, she moved to Florida to live with her father. She attended college there and then moved back to New York City.

Gilmour’s first publishing job was at E.P. Dutton. In 1964 she joined Bantam Books where she worked as copywriter, editor, and copy chief and as an associate director of marketing. She was married to Bruce Gilmour in 1968. She had a child, Jessica, with him in 1970. They were divorced in 1972. Her first novel "The Trade", a trashy paperback about the publishing business, was published in 1969.

She wrote novelizations (including Saturday Night Fever) and children's books (including Muppets books) while working full-time at Bantam and raising a child on her own. She published her second original novel "So Long, Daddy" in 1985. The artwork for the dust jacket of the hardcover release includes a photo of her daughter, Jessica. Her third novel was "Ask Me If I Care", a book about a teenage girl who gets in with the wrong crowd.

In 1992 she joined the book division at Scholastic, leaving in 1995 to pursue writing full-time. She focused her energy on books for "tweens" and children which is what gave her the most joy.

She met John Johann, whom she would later marry, in 1992. They later moved to Cornwallville in upstate New York where she happily tended to the garden she never had in the city until her death. She died on June 21, 2009 of pneumonia due to complications from lung cancer. She is survived by her husband John, daughter Jessica, stepchildren Wendy and John, Jr. and step-grandchildren Reef, Riley, John Jr. and Jasmine.

Reviews

[Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[Fox Bragg · Rating 2 out of 5]

nostalgia for a childhood favorite

[Yaiza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tal cual la película

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of all the books my third grader has read, this is the one he is intent on using for his book fair project. This reads like a long synopsis of a bad movie, probably because that is exactly what it is.

[Jordan Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it was a quick read, and it was based of the 1998 film Godzilla. There were pictures from the motion picture throughout the book. I feel kids would enjoy this sci-fi thriller! I feel its only appropriate for 3rd grade and up!