Wrecker is set in Key West, Florida. The name “Key West” refers to both a city and the small island that the city is partially on. The city of Key West, located at the end of a chain of islands called the Florida Keys, is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States. It is actually closer to Cuba than it is to the South-Florida city of Miami. The island of Key West is part of the City of Key West, which also includes sections of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, and Sunset Key.

The original occupants of Key West are the Calusa people. Black freedom-seekers fleeing from slavery in the South, British settlers from the Bahamas, and Black and Indigenous peoples from Cuba and the Bahamas arrived in Key West throughout the 1800s. Over time, industries that took advantage of the island’s location and tropical climate sprang up: fishing, cigar-making, shipwreck salvage, and smuggling are all important to the island’s economic history. The protagonist of Wrecker, Valdez Jones, is part of a multiracial family that has historically participated in salvage work—and he accidentally gets mixed up with modern-day smugglers.

The racial diversity of Key West sometimes resulted in racist violence. In 1897, the Key West Race Riot occurred when a Black man, Sylvanus Johnson, was accused of sexually assaulting a white woman. On February 26, 1921, the Key West chapter of the KKK was founded. They beat, tarred, and feathered man named Manuel Cabeza because he was engaged in an interracial relationship. Two days later, on December 25, 1921, the Klan lynched Cabeza. In Wrecker, Cabeza’s story becomes important to both Wrecker and Willi and impacts their understanding of themselves and their community. Although Cabeza is one of the Key West Klan’s most famous victims of racist violence, he is far from the only one: The Klan continued their brutal practices in Key West for more than a decade.

Today, however, Key West is culturally diverse and prides itself on inclusivity and free thinking. Most locals endorse a “One Human Family” worldview that welcomes and respects all kinds of people. Those born in Key West refer to themselves as “Conchs” and to the city as “The Conch Republic.” The community is known for its civic strength, holding fundraisers for those in need, providing care for one another in the wake of hurricanes, and banding together to improve the city and care for its natural environment. In the novel, Wrecker and his stepsister, Suzanne, are both involved with an effort to stop cruise ships from destroying the marine environment of Key West.

The history, culture, and location of Key West make it a popular tourist destination. Key West is known for its pastel-colored buildings, frequent festivals and cultural events, and thriving food scene. Key West is also popular for its association with famous American artists and its use as a setting in literature and film. In the 1930s, iconic American author Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West; his 1937 novel To Have and Have Not is partially set there. In the 1940s, acclaimed American playwright Tennessee Williams moved to a cottage in Key West, where he lived for the rest of his life. In the 1970s, rock musician Jimmy Buffet promoted Key West as a carefree tropical escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Movies like The Beach Bum (2019) have showcased the area’s beauty and its unique culture. Several authors have, like Hiaasen, set their works in the area; for example, Jennifer L. Holm’s Turtle in Paradise (2011) and Full of Beans (2016) are two highly-regarded middle-grade historical novels about Key West.