I think the main character is supposed to be a Native American girl, but this book works for all American children. There are some details that won't work anywhere else in the world, like corn fields, Jacko lanterns, and school buses.
Or hay rides at night. Who drives hay around at night? I'm a country girl, to me “hay rides” are essentially connected to storing hay for the animals, and it's done in the afternoon, after a long day at the hay field, that's the last thing you do that day, and after the hay ride, you have to move the hay to the storage. But I suppose to most USonians hayride is something specifically arranged, and apparently done at nightfall or even at night, for the fun of it. The main character of this book is very small, in school already though, so... 6-8? Being up at night is not something for that small kids... on the other hand, I suppose the sun goes down at 6 or so, and it's pitch dark already at 7, and that's totally fine for even little kids... Ah. I'm talking too much. :-D That has nothing to do with this book.
It's a very nice book, with nice pictures, and makes me think about how I know it's Autumn. :-)