Fingal's Quest

This book is set in the time when monks were flourishing and bringing religion and education around Europe. Their monasteries were places of learning, and many a boy was sent there to learn, and eventually to become a monk like his teachers.  One of these boys was named Fingal.  He was a "poor scholar", one who works around the monastery to pay for his education.  Despite this, however, Fingal shared a hut with a king's son, Diarmid, and a cheiftan's son, Cahal, for in the monastery there was no distinction between those of high and low birth.  He and Diarmid became fast friends, but Fingal and Cahal got off badly from the start, and soon hated each other with a passion.

Diarmid was not the only person who Fingal loved, however.  Their teacher, Brother Columban, inspired an intense filial love in the heart of Fingal.  When Fingal finds out that Brother Columban would rather be a missionary to another country he begins to make plans to travel there himself, if Brother Columban should ever be able to leave.  Eventually, however, Fingal must ask himself the question, "Am I really trying to follow God's plan for my life?"

This was a book that I was required to read with Mother of Divine Grace, but I highly recommend it and I think that I would have read it whether or not it was required.