The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club

The Author’s Note that follows the last chapter demonstrates how many of the characters in the book relate to Kelly’s family, who, like the Smiths, lived in the less wealthy, more rural northern part of Martha’s Vineyard, colloquially called Up-Island. Her mother, Joanne Finnegan Hall, inspired the fictional character Cadence. Like Cadence, Joanne loved to read and salvaged books from the dump. Two of her mother’s friends provide the basis for Bess. Joanne’s mother, Kelly’s grandmother, Emma Louise, has much in common with Gram—both are resourceful Christians who bake. Kelly’s uncle, John Finnergan, fought in World War II as a member of the United States Army Air Corps. He was shot down over Italy and, like Tom, rescued by nuns. Joanne married a Coast Guard officer, which suggests Major Gilbert. Kelly doesn’t list a direct inspiration for Briar, which suggests that Briar is the most fictional of the characters.

Kelly remembers hearing stories about U-boat sightings from older relatives. People on the island could supposedly hear the submarines recharging their batteries by running their diesel engines on the surface to generate electricity. Kelly also remembers her mother and her mother’s friends admiring the soldiers who came to the islands for the war games.