Two Kids Lost in History: Rambling on the Hudson's West Shore

Two Kids Lost in History offers a unique study of an historical environment. Originally, it was conceived as a challenge to two teenage girls to work collaboratively in writing, organizing, arranging, editing, and illustrating the outstanding elements within their neighborhood, the West Shore of the Hudson River. These activities were to be supervised by their grandfather, a man with a lifetime interest in American history. The goal proved too ambitious so adaptations had to be made. The story of the settlement of the Hudson Valley followed by the American Revolution with focus of the West Shore is an epic in itself. The importance and concentration on West Point reflects the general development of our country and the roles various groups played within its history. World Wars contributed to the very ethos of the area and the tragedy of 9/11 underscored the fragility of life.The history of the Hudson Valley also displays the impact upon native Americans and should offer inspiration to all for reflecting upon our future, a goal history should provide.When Richard O'Prey first undertook this exercise as editor, he had an unrealistic notion about how he could develop a viable book that would credit the authors and yet reflect accurate content and honest narration. Soon the editor discovered that time and geography were two major deterrents to satisfy his ambition. The authors, Megan O’Prey and Shannon Fuller, were on the cusp of their thirteenth birthday and preoccupied with the demands of their personal middle school responsibilities. Not only had they to comply with the academic assignments requested by their teachers, but they also had duties related to their hobbies and after school sports and cultural activities. To burden them further with writing as investigative and interpretive report was an extraordinary imposition on the part of the editor. To resolve these difficulties and still maintain their authorship he offered a compromise. The editor would suggest topics, personalities, events that were germane to the text and have them use their expertise on the computer to provide enhancement material or fact check his exposition. Furthermore, the authors would read the suggested narration and make alterations where they felt suited, or add or subtract items that appeared inappropriate to them. Another area where they could be effective was in the photographs that appear. Each has expertise in digital photography, whereas the editor is still trapped as an SLR fan. The authors were charged with physically visiting the sites and recording their experiences and reactions. Both authors exhibited enthusiasm for the tasks and were influential in the final presentation of their work. The editor’s role was more of a politician’s speechwriter who offers words, but the politician approves the final edition. The public deems the speaker as the author although his presentation is mostly the work of the ghostwriters or speechwriters. So it is with this interpretation of the West Shore of the Hudson River. For those critics who might claim that some words, concepts, vocabulary, expressions, or even topics may be beyond the ken of the typical early teen young lady, the editor would remind them with the words of Robert Browning, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”