{"product_id":"no-stars-in-jefferson-park-a-memoir-paperback","title":"No Stars in Jefferson Park: A Memoir - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMaggie Andersen\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Chicagoan's coming-of-age memoir finds courage in the face of immense loss\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e In her early twenties, Maggie Andersen was a founding ensemble member of Chicago's storied Gift Theatre with her then-boyfriend, Michael Patrick Thornton. But after a series of spinal strokes left Thornton paralyzed, Andersen made the heart-wrenching decision to leave him, along with their growing company and, later, her beloved city. \u003ci\u003eNo Stars in Jefferson Park\u003c\/i\u003e alternates between two narratives: the energy and excitement of making art in Chicago's thriving storefront theater scene and the devastating day-to-day realities of rehabilitation and rebuilding--and somewhere in the middle finding the courage to choose yourself. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Over the past twenty-plus years, the Gift--now performing in the working-class neighborhood of Portage Park--has become one of the most vital storefront theaters in Chicago, with Thornton's career taking him to Hollywood and Broadway. But Andersen's story has brought her back home. \u003ci\u003eNo Stars in Jefferson Park\u003c\/i\u003e is a testament to lifelong friendship, a love letter to Chicago, and a profound coming-of-age story about the pain and necessity of putting yourself first. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMAGGIE ANDERSEN \u003c\/b\u003eis an associate professor of English at Dominican University and a founding ensemble member of the Gift Theatre. Her work has appeared in \u003ci\u003eDIAGRAM\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Los Angeles Review\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSalt Hill\u003c\/i\u003e, among others. Andersen has also worked on stages and microphones across Chicago, where she lives with her husband and son. This is her first book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 280\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.71 x 9.02 x 6.06 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 15, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51987488276781,"sku":"9780810149519","price":24.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/ZO9hnxaLjd9780810149519.webp?v=1776179008","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/no-stars-in-jefferson-park-a-memoir-paperback","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}