Readers Favorite Reviews
As part of the Readers Favorite international award competition John F. Kennedy: Light the World was reviewed by five different reviewers -- all five awarded the play five stars!
Here are excerpts from each review. See the full reviews below the excerpts.
Review Excerpts
John F. Kennedy: Light the World
Grant Leishman: (5 stars) “The author has created a wonderful play that celebrates not just the life and times of the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, but also serves as a window to the current political discord and intense partisanship that is now the cornerstone of both American political life and American society as a whole…. The collection of songs and photographs was absolutely a highlight, and it makes me desperately want to see this play performed, which is perhaps the highest accolade I could give the author.”
Luwi Nyakansaila: (5 stars) “Charles D Jewell’s play….is really more than just a tribute; it’s a reminder of what JFK meant to America. His assassination in 1963 didn’t just shake the country; it changed its course…. The play delves into the shock of Kennedy’s sudden death, the fear that swept the nation, the wild theories, and those strange, uncertain days right after. There is a feeling that JFK’s presence never really faded. He sticks with us in memories and in things worth fighting for….In a world so divided by politics right now, John F. Kennedy: Light the World feels like exactly what we need.”
Rabia Tanveer: (5 stars) “This is such a unique, heartfelt project, and you can really feel the author's passion about it. The structure of the play is very creative….The theme song "The Golden Cup," built around the melody of "Danny Boy," is such a lovely, fitting choice given its connection to Kennedy's own funeral.”
Carmen Tenorio: (5 stars) “A major thread is unity and public respect alongside political split and the weight of national loss….All the characters that are prominent, minor, or controversial mainly fit into the wider historical frame. Jewell’s tone is ceremonial and dramatic, with moments that are reflective and lyrical. The mix of quotes, explanations, songs, and images gives the multimedia approach a blended feel.”
Doreen Chombu: (5 stars) “You see his [Kennedy’s] military service, hear echoes of his famous speeches, and really understand what drove him. It covers his assassination and gives accounts from various people who learned about his death and those who mourned him. The book turns its focus to the evil forces, the Leviathans, that killed him and continue to divide the nation for their own benefit. Finally, the story offers a message of hope and courage to people to keep fighting for good and what is right.
Full Reviews
Readers Favorite Review of John F. Kennedy: Light the World
Reviewed by: Grant Leishman, Review Rating: 5 Stars
John F. Kennedy: Light the World – A Ceremonial Play with Songs and Photos by Charles D Jewell is one of those special projects that light up the world. The author has created a wonderful play that celebrates not just the life and times of the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, but also serves as a window to the current political discord and intense partisanship that is now the cornerstone of both American political life and American society as a whole. Included are some of the most powerful speeches made by the late President, as well as patriotic and heartfelt songs that express the ideals on which the republic was founded and the hopes for the future. The author portrays the deep sense of loss and sadness over the assassination of a man many believed was ushering in the dawn of a new age in America, a Camelot.
John F. Kennedy: Light the World is a powerful work that reminds us what it truly is to be American. Although the assassination is now over sixty years in the past, for many, the death of Kennedy is still seen to be a timestamp that marked the death of a dream. Charles D Jewell has tapped into a well of nostalgia for a simpler time when people had some trust in the government. The collection of songs and photographs was absolutely a highlight, and it makes me desperately want to see this play performed, which is perhaps the highest accolade I could give the author. The author did not seek to gloss over the personal failings of Kennedy and promote him as some sort of demigod. What I appreciated most was the feeling of hope and future that Kennedy was able to generate in Americans. Compare that to today’s politicians, and the difference is clear. No one suggests that Kennedy was not “born with a silver spoon in his mouth,” but it is fair to say he truly was a man of the people. This is wonderfully illustrated by the reactions to his death in the mythical town of Anderson Springs, where, for ordinary Americans, it felt like a dream truly had died. I loved this story and highly recommend it.
Readers Favorite Review of John F. Kennedy: Light the World
Reviewed by: Luwi Nyakansaila, Review Rating: 5 Stars
Charles D Jewell’s play, John F. Kennedy: Light the World (A Ceremonial Play with Songs and Photos), is really more than just a tribute; it’s a reminder of what JFK meant to America. His assassination in 1963 didn’t just shake the country; it changed its course. The play goes into JFK’s drive to serve, tracing things back to his military days, long before he had ever set foot in the Oval Office. Even though he grew up with money, he fought for people who didn’t have that privilege: the poor, minorities, groups often left out of the conversation. Through his speeches and the work he did as president, you get the sense he wanted to do what’s right and pull people together, party lines or not. And, of course, he pushed to bring American troops home. Jewell doesn’t shy away from the heavy stuff either. The play delves into the shock of Kennedy’s sudden death, the fear that swept the nation, the wild theories, and those strange, uncertain days right after. There is a feeling that JFK’s presence never really faded. He sticks with us in memories and in things worth fighting for.
In a world so divided by politics right now, John F. Kennedy: Light the World feels like exactly what we need. The writing urges us to come together, set aside our differences, and work for the common good. Kennedy pushed hard for teamwork, compassion, and a sense of shared purpose. He believed that’s how you meet challenges and build a better future. Charles D Jewell mixes a lot into his play: there’s music, acted scenes, and real historical speeches. You get classics like "Amazing Grace" and "America the Beautiful," the kind of music that hits you right in the heart. What really caught my attention was how Jewell weaves in stories from other historical figures, cutting through the noise to remind us what truly matters. He doesn’t sugarcoat JFK, either. Jewell talks about Kennedy’s flaws and failures, showing he was just as human as anyone else — which somehow makes his efforts to do good even more inspiring. We could all take a lesson from that. More than anything, this book is about hope. Jewell challenges us to hold onto our democratic ideals and not let our differences turn into hatred.
Readers Favorite Review of John F. Kennedy: Light the World
Reviewed by: Rabia Tanveer, Review Rating: 5 Stars
John F. Kennedy: Light the World - A Ceremonial Play with Songs and Photos by Charles D. Jewell is a ceremonial stage play with original songs. It is meant to honor President Kennedy's memory through a theatrical feel rather than a straightforward dramatized story. The play moves through several parts of the President's life. It opens with a processional and invocation, then takes readers through Kennedy's speeches and wartime heroism. The author doesn't just stop there, he also takes readers through the national grief after Kennedy's assassination, and the decades of cultural change that followed. Along the way, the play also focuses on the conspiracy behind his death through the biblical image of a Leviathan. He shares the imagery of a monster representing the hidden forces the author believes shaped the assassination and its aftermath.
Author Charles D. Jewell gave a very human look at President Kennedy's influence on bipartisan American history without making him sound like a martyr. He shares the legacy Kennedy left behind while also talking about the conspiracy behind his death. This is such a unique, heartfelt project, and you can really feel the author's passion about it. The structure of the play is very creative. This is a mix of spoken parts, music, and photographs that make it almost ceremonial rather than a play. I loved the attention to detail in the staging notes too, right down to the lighting, the costumes, and the specific instruments recommended for each song. It helped me visualize the play and feel like I was watching a performance rather than just simply reading it. The theme song "The Golden Cup," built around the melody of "Danny Boy," is such a lovely, fitting choice given its connection to Kennedy's own funeral. John F. Kennedy: Light the World is a deeply personal, lovingly crafted tribute that will be enjoyed by readers and theater fans.
Readers Favorite Review of John F. Kennedy: Light the World
Reviewed by: Carmen Tenorio, Review Rating: 5 Stars
Charles D Jewell’s John F. Kennedy: Light the World is a theatrical script tribute to America’s 35th president. It breaks JFK’s story into six parts, with an epilogue. Part one is about Kennedy’s time in the military, his rise in politics, and his memorable speeches. It covers contributions from his support for civil rights and the space program to his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Part two shifts to the words and images linked to the assassination and the details that became part of America's lasting shared memory. Part three addresses the shock and the worry that spread after the tragedy. Jewell uses the biblical Leviathan to represent the forces connected to Kennedy’s death. Part four moves to mourning. It focuses on national grief and what it means to lose a President. Part five covers the major changes in society and culture, along with the political and global shifts that came after the assassination. Part six’s New Hope calls for a push toward bipartisan unity, dialogue, cooperation, and respectful public life. It argues that ordinary citizens should help decide what the nation must remember and how Kennedy’s ideas and legacy should be kept alive.
Charles D Jewell’s John F. Kennedy: Light the World pulls together history, famous speeches, songs, photos, and direct stage-like notes. It tends to stop and look again, especially at the big moments from Kennedy’s life. It is built around themes and key points in time whose pauses invite thought about his life, his death, and what followed. A major thread is unity and public respect alongside political split and the weight of national loss. It also touches on dread, cultural shifts, and how major events can remake a country’s identity. The assassination works like a hinge for the author’s look at later changes in American politics and culture. Kennedy’s humanity is shown more through what he said, what he lived through, what he did, and how he looked in public. All the characters that are prominent, minor, or controversial mainly fit into the wider historical frame. Jewell’s tone is ceremonial and dramatic, with moments that are reflective and lyrical. The mix of quotes, explanations, songs, and images gives the multimedia approach a blended feel. Well suited for people who like material on historical figures, history, and political culture that is impressive and takes time to slow down for reflection.
Readers Favorite Review of John F. Kennedy: Light the World
Review by Doreen Chombu, Review Rating: 5 stars
John F. Kennedy: Light the World — A Ceremonial Play with Songs and Photos by Charles D Jewell is a play honoring the thirty-fifth president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It celebrates his life, ideals, and the mark he left on America. The play uses music to dive into Kennedy’s work across party lines and his passion for justice and unity. You see his military service, hear echoes of his famous speeches, and really understand what drove him. It covers his assassination and gives accounts from various people who learned about his death and those who mourned him. The book turns its focus to the evil forces, the Leviathans, that killed him and continue to divide the nation for their own benefit. Finally, the story offers a message of hope and courage to people to keep fighting for good and what is right.
John F. Kennedy: Light the World is not only an engaging read that brings musical theater and history together but also educates readers about John F. Kennedy. It is a solemn remembrance, and even though his assassination is one of the main focuses of this play, the narrative also touches on his leadership, service to the people, and even his personal struggles. The book has pictures that take you through history. Charles D Jewell’s mix of art and poetic writing works. The storytelling feels alive, and the play doesn’t stick to just Kennedy; there are also emotional side stories where people share how his death affected them. The whole book is organized into six sections, and everything flows naturally from one part to the next. If you’re interested in history, politics, or just good drama, you’ll walk away with important lessons about breaking down political divisions, fighting for civil rights, and speaking up for what matters.