What was it like to grow up in small-town Mississippi in the 1950s—without cell phones, internet, or even a neighborhood swimming pool? Union native Johnny Neil Smith answers that question with heart, humor, and rich storytelling in his new book Johnny B. Goode, a nostalgic memoir capturing the adventurous spirit of his boyhood.
“I never intended to write this book,” Smith explains. “But since my children and grandchildren sometimes asked me how I entertained myself as a child during my summer vacation, I finally decided to give them a glimpse of my past. All of the episodes in this book are the experiences I had as a twelve-year-old boy.”
Smith, a 1957 graduate of Union High School, wrote Johnny B. Goode not just as a personal memoir, but as a loving tribute to a time when kids roamed freely and imagination reigned. “Growing up in the fifties in a small rural community was like living in paradise,” he recalls. “We had practically no crime, so most people didn’t even lock their doors at night… We had no organized recreation program or swimming pool, but we found imaginative ways to entertain ourselves.”
That creativity—and occasional danger—is at the heart of the book’s thirteen chapters, each one a self-contained “escapade” drawn from real life. From "Raccoon on the Loose" to "Swimming with Snakes" to the climactic “Battle in Bobby’s Woods,” Smith’s tales highlight a time when young boys found their thrills in creeks, woods, and make-believe wars.
“I loved wild animals, so the raccoon and fox stories are also some of my favorite episodes,” he says. But it’s the final story that Smith feels best captures the essence of his childhood: “The last episode named The Battle of Bobby's Woods… I think that this escapade truly shows how children in my day could use their imaginations and come up victorious against the odds.”
Though Smith is also the author of four historical novels set in the 1800s, Johnny B. Goode marks a return to his roots—literally. “Even though I loved writing the historical novels, writing Johnny B. Goode was a fun challenge,” he shares. “Taking my growing up years and making these escapades into a book that children could enjoy was much easier and just a joy for me to write.”
He hopes the book will spark something in today's young readers too. “With no cell phones or computers, we all became more creative and this carried over into our adult lives,” Smith says. “Technology robs our children today by taking away face-to-face time with others. I hope children who read this book will begin putting down all the technology and just spend more time with friends and families and come to love the outdoors like we did.”
Johnny B. Goode is available now on Amazon in both paperback and e-book formats. Locals will also have the chance to purchase signed copies and meet the author during the upcoming class reunion on Monday, April 28th at Union’s First Baptist Church, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As for what’s next? Smith says this is his final book. But with Johnny B. Goode, he’s left behind a heartfelt gift for readers of all ages, and a legacy that honors the Union community that raised him.
