I really like the book The Gate by Nancy Carabio Belanger.

Joshua Lasko was a nice boy, good student, and altar server until his dad dies when Josh is only 11. After that, at age 13, his grades fall, he and his mother stop going to Mass, and Josh turns into a smart-aleck troublemaker who doesn’t study for tests, plays violent video games behind his mother’s back, makes fun of people, and is always thinking about getting money. Josh doesn’t want anyone and thinks he can make his own rules.

When his teacher assigns a pen-pal project to get to know nursing home residents, Josh meets Pie, a senior citizen with a love of his Catholic faith, St. John Bosco, and the New York Yankees. Much to Josh’s surprise, Pie shows Josh that God has a plan for everyone–even for him.

This book shows the true dignity of the priesthood We need to trust God, pray, and have patience. This is a great novel about faith, always trying to do the right thing, growing up, and how God shows us at different times in our lives, our true, God-predetermined vocation.