Leila Boukarim’s Mariam’s Dream: The Story of Mariam Al-Shaar and Her Food Truck of Hope is not a biography about a “woman done good.” Or an Arab woman “done good” or even an Arab refugee woman “done good.” It is all those things and much more. It shows that even if you were born into a situation where all you knew was being a refugee or if you have many obstacles to overcome, you can make your dream come true. Of course, that is a simplified version of what really happened, but Bourkarim’s introduction to Mariam Al-Shaar is not shying away from the difficulties she faced. 
The troubles are also softened by brightly colored illustrations by Sona Avedikian. The cover gives you a good representation of things to come, but of course, there is more to them as well. The colors and details mix with the text to give the big picture. They tell the story themselves and are supportive of the text. They are cozy, have a little action, but as the story is not “traditional action” that part is the “life of” action. This is seeing the political, social, and laws she must overcome to get a seemingly small thing (a food truck) that will have a large impact, not just for herself but for the women of her community. This action is about the “community, and the flavors of Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon” (according to the publisher’s description). It is about how this woman empowered herself and allowed others to do the same. 
This book works well for the at least aged five and older. It would be a good read aloud or one-on-one. The classroom would be the perfect way to introduce this subject, history, and woman. It is also a good starting point for our current events as well.