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MWSA Review
Chicken Scratchings is an inspirational collection of short stories by the award-winning author, Nancy Panko. This anthology includes many of Nancy’s stories published in the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series, plus several personal recollections of Nancy’s daily life and family. As a backyard chicken keeper, I must confess I was intrigued with the title and thoroughly enjoyed each little “nugget” of inspiration.
I was brought to tears by Nancy’s recollection of the death of her brother and the impact it would make on her future as a registered nurse and eventually the impetus of her writing career. The stories are personal and intimate. You feel as if Nancy is sitting across the table from you imparting the wisdom gained over many years throughout her rewarding career. As Nancy has, many of us face challenges in our day-to-day lives. How we face those challenges is up to each individual. Nancy’s stories focus on the positive. They exhort divine intervention of God in the face of adversity. Nancy’s strong faith is an ongoing theme throughout the collection and will make a wonderful addition to one’s daily devotional.
Review by Rebecca O’Bea (January 2024)
Author's Synopsis
This collection of short stories can make you laugh and cry, give you the life advice you've been looking for, or inspire you to do something you've always wanted to do.
Chicken Scratchings is a great book to tuck in your purse for a read while in a waiting room or as an easy-breezy beach read. From the first chapter about a miracle in the Intensive Care Unit to another where firemen have to extricate the author's husband from the bedroom ceiling, Panko draws the reader into her reality.
Nancy Panko's short stories have been published dozens of times in Chicken Soup for the Soul books.
Reader's Digest, Woman's World and Guideposts magazines have also published her work.
Chicken Scratchings draws all of her short stories together to give readers a snapshot of this award-winning author's life and a glimpse of her family and the depth of her faith.
Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review Genre: Other—Anthology
Number of Pages: 150
Word Count: 38,322