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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nonstop action, January 8, 2010
This review is from: The Lab (Lab (Scholastic Mass Market)) (Mass Market Paperback)
Meet Agent Six of Hearts. He's the strongest, fastest, most clever, and most effective member of a special group of field agents working in the Deck, a vigilante organization intent on establishing justice in a dangerous and corrupt world. Six is the best of the Deck's agents--and he's only sixteen. What the people at the Deck don't know, and can't find out, is that Six is the product of a genetic experiment by the Lab to create superhumans, the very kind of thing the Deck fights to prevent. When Six is assigned to investigate the Lab, he risks exposure. If the Deck learns of his identity, he'll likely be treated as a traitor and subsequently punished. And if the Lab discovers that Six is out and about, he knows he'll be pursued until capture. Either way, this is going to be Six's most dangerous mission yet.
The Lab starts with a dramatic action scene and continues to be action packed until the very last page. There are seriously very few pages in this novel that don't include a fight scene, chase scene, or danger. All this makes for an undoubtedly exciting and edge-of-your-seat suspense filled story that is quite difficult to put down. As with many purely action novels, the book starts to break down with characterization. Protagonist Six is superhuman, and unfortunately, a cold and distant personality results from it. Six's inability to relate to the normal humans around him makes him almost inhuman and inaccessible to the reader. Heath does attempt to develop Six's character, but it's a little sloppy, especially at first. Six's questioning of this identity, origins, and their significance is awkward and out of place amidst the nearly constant danger Six is usually immersed in. Since this novel is primarily action based, this isn't a big deal since the plot is more than enough to keep the reader interested and satisfied.
The Lab will be enjoyed by fans of other futuristic action packed novels such as Skinned by Robin Wasserman, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Unwind by Neal Shusterman. I can't wait to check out the sure to be exciting sequel, Remote Control.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great new series for the US, May 11, 2009
I was initially hooked by the unique take on creating an agency utilizing a deck of cards. Clever, original. Hooked.
At first, the story drug a little. I wasn't entirely taken in until the action truly picked up and Agent Six realized he was being followed. The chase scene involving running, malls, parking garages and destroyed cars was well written and fast-paced. I was right there with Six.
Towards the latter half of the book, I could not put it down. The action did not cease and Six only became a deeper and more intense character.
I subsequently looked on here for additional books, hoping it was a series, but couldn't find any. I did a Google search on him and found his Australian website. This is the first book in a series of FOUR. His fourth comes out this fall in Australia. I found out that Scholastic has picked up the remainder of the series and will be releasing them over the next few years here in the States. Fantastic!
I would recommend 2 things:
1. Read this book.
2. Check out the guy's website. There are some short stories and details of his other series. Yes, an entire other series based on a brilliant teenaged girl who pulls off high-stakes heists.
I love that I have found a new and engaging writer. Thank you, Scholastic!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, April 16, 2009
Agent Six of Hearts works to save innocent people and uncover the truth. He participates in many dangerous missions, often getting himself nearly killed. But Agent Six has never failed a mission -- and he's only sixteen years old.
But that isn't why Agent Six seems to be so perfect. The truth is that Agent Six was made to have almost super-human powers, to be a killing machine. And now Agent Six must save his country and also hide from the corrupted government officials who are trying to find their super-killers that they created.
Jack Heath writes a mysterious and action-packed novel that is sure to please any 007 fans. He creates a world where people are terrified under a suppressive government and it's up to The Deck, a super-secret organization, to save the innocent civilians and uncover the government's secrets.
With a cliffhanger at the end, THE LAB is sure to be the next Alex Rider series...
Reviewed by: Steph
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