The Grace That Keeps This World, by Tom Bailey, is a gripping novel about the Hazen family who have lived on Lost Lake their entire lives. In this novel Kevin Hazen, a young 19 year old, seeks his place in the world and in his own family. He wants more for his life than the life of survival his parents lived their whole lives. The Hazen family story centers on the first day of deer season. For the Hazen, this hunt is more than just a sport. They use the meat from every deer they kill to help them survive through the winter. Traditionally Kevin, his father, Gary Hazen, and his brother, Gary David, all go out together for their first hunt at 2 a.m. after a breakfast of homemade pancakes, but this year is different. Kevin wants to break free from his family's life and doesn't want to go hunting with his father and brother. He can't understand why his father is so set in his ways and Kevin doesn't want to live his father's life. Gary is a forester and believes in working hard to better provide for his family and preserve nature. Kevin, like most children, does not understand his father's way of thinking and wants to live his own life. A life away from Lost Lake. Kevin attempts to break free from his father's lifestyle by attending a nearby college, hoping to become a teacher. Gary is unhappy with his son's decision to go to school and Kevin cannot understand his father's opinions, which causes the two to clash throughout the novel. But a tragic accident suddenly forces Kevin to fight for his life and that of his father. Having to use the knowledge and skills his father taught him, Kevin suddenly realizes that his father was right after all. Bailey tells... in the middle of the paper...... about with his family. He continues to study and work to realize his dream, but begins to work hard to support his family. He understands why his father tried to teach him all the things he thought were useless or unfair. Just like when Odysseus finally returns home to his family, Kevin finds his way back to his. Although Kevin initially thought his home would mean leaving Lost Lake and moving away from his father's lifestyle, he later discovered he was wrong. This new home was unexpected, he never predicted that this would be the end of his life. But none the less, he was home. Our Ulysses, in The Grace That Maintains This World, goes through hardships, but ultimately finds his way home. Bailey ingeniously writes his novel as a modern odyssey, with our tragic hero Kevin facing all the problems that arise to return home at the end..