“No Stars in Jefferson Park is an important snapshot of a particular era in Chicago theater. It’s more important as a warm and unwavering portrait of overcoming the guilt of claiming your life as your gift.” —The Chicago Reader

“No Stars in Jefferson Park, traces the true-life journey of two young actors whose dreams collide with a medical crisis . . . No Stars chronicles that tumultuous time in their lives, pinging back and forth between two formative eras. One on hand, readers get an inside peek of the earliest days of the Gift, which found quick success . . . Meanwhile, readers follow Thornton’s journey, along with his parents and Andersen, through months of rehab and beyond.” —Chicago magazine 

“Andersen’s many-layered memoir is breathtaking in its openness, authenticity, and drama as she grapples with adversity, hard truths, creative imperatives, and the different ways we love.” —Booklist, starred review

“A Chicago story of working-class triumph in the face of adversity. It is a romantic story of young love, unimaginable tragedy, artistic success, and ultimately personal overcoming. Courageous.” —Chicago Review of Books

“Andersen’s debut book deals with complex themes of heartbreak and self discovery, but it’s also deeply rooted in Chicago’s Far Northwest Side.” —Block Club Chicago

“A tender story of love, loss, and resilience, No Stars in Jefferson Park weaves together memories of Andersen’s relationship with Thornton, their joint artistic endeavors, and her journey toward independence . . . this memoir succeeds in capturing the energy, ambition, and passion that drive grassroots theater-makers.” —Sixty Inches from Center

“No Stars in Jefferson Park is an instant Chicago classic, excavating the deeply moving and complex personal histories behind the forming of a now-renowned theater company—but this luminous story also transcends any one city or art form. Here, Andersen boldly wrestles with the essential questions of love, loyalty, freedom, sacrifice, collaboration, self-discovery, betrayal, tenacity, forgiveness, and the intimate power of bearing witness to another's whole life. This book is a gift.” —Gina Frangello, author of Blow Your House Down: A Story of Family, Feminism, and Treason

“Poetically weaving together memories and history, this is a work of staggering vulnerability about finding your place in the world through risks and mistakes, honesty and forgiveness, and loving deeply though it all. No Stars in Jefferson Park feels like your best friend sharing her tale in a dark Chicago dive bar over a glass of good bourbon.” —Sandra Delgado, actor, writer, and producer

“No Stars in Jefferson Park shows us people who are complicated and messy, people who behaved badly and wonderfully and I loved them through all of it. Andersen takes us deep into a single, unique experience of class, art, disability, choice, love and loss; it is a timely, visceral, heartbreaking story.” —Amanda Delheimer, Artistic Director, 2nd Story