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56th out of 145 books
—
222 voters
The Lab (Agent Six of Hearts #1)
by
Jack Heath (Goodreads Author)
The start of a fantastic new action/adventure series from a 20-yr-old author who knows how to thrill
In a near-future world run by an evil corporation, the only justice comes from an organization called the Deck. Each agent in the deck belongs to a suit -- the Hearts and Diamonds are the operatives, the Clubs do the training, and the Spades monitor internal affairs. The her...more
In a near-future world run by an evil corporation, the only justice comes from an organization called the Deck. Each agent in the deck belongs to a suit -- the Hearts and Diamonds are the operatives, the Clubs do the training, and the Spades monitor internal affairs. The her...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
November 1st 2008
by Scholastic Press
(first published 2006)
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Six is different then the rest of the agents in The Deck. Not only is he super strong, he can heal faster than the average human, he has perfect vision, and he is lethal. More importantly, Six is only sixteen years old. What most people don't know about six, is that he was the product of an illegal experiment at the Lab, which burned down sixteen years ago. Furthermore, if anyone at the Deck found out that he isn't a true human being, he could be hunted and destroyed. In the world that Six lives...more
I have one primary problem with this book: It feels like the story its telling is being portrayed in the wrong medium. Namely, this should be a graphic novel.
This is mostly because the story contains copious amounts of action sequences, which I feel really would have worked better in a visual medium. More than that, though, the setting seems interesting enough that it would have been nice to actually see. We don't really get a lot of descriptions of it, which tends to be what I prefer when readi...more
This is mostly because the story contains copious amounts of action sequences, which I feel really would have worked better in a visual medium. More than that, though, the setting seems interesting enough that it would have been nice to actually see. We don't really get a lot of descriptions of it, which tends to be what I prefer when readi...more
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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...more
It's very easy to say that bad scifi is both painful and abundant. To be honest, when I first saw the cover of The Lab, I thought it was going to be terrible. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, just a bit too reminiscent of another (absolutely awful) scifi book that I will not name for the sake of being kind.
Anyway, I read the blurb and was mildly intrigued. Since I've been on a scifi binge recently, I decided to go for it.
Now, allow me to start flailing like a fangirl.
I adored Six's characte...more
Anyway, I read the blurb and was mildly intrigued. Since I've been on a scifi binge recently, I decided to go for it.
Now, allow me to start flailing like a fangirl.
I adored Six's characte...more
It was entertaining, mostly – not particularly engrossing or ... well ... smart, but something light and exciting to pass the time. I thought the plot showed some potential; it was creative, but a little Maximum Ride-esque, what w/"The Lab" being a lot like "The School", in that it combined humans with animals to enhance them. Also, the whole thing was just a string of action sequences; it didn't leave much room for character development. The main character's lack of imperfections made it sorta...more
Jun 04, 2010
Hussein
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes spies and action
Recommended to Hussein by:
My brother
The Lab is a great novel by Jack Heath . It's about a little organzation trying to save a city from injustice . The organzation is called the Deck . Their plans are to save the city by destroying the main cause of injustice ,ChoaSonic . Also the Deck is an ageceny fill of agents . Their most effective agent is agent Sixs of Hearts . Just one problem is that he is a part of an illegal project of The Lab ,a project fill of superhuman .The Lab is part of ChoaSonic which are injustice .Now in order...more
Possibly the best action writing I have ever seen. The author is in his element as he narrates the superhuman powers of the young hero. In writing it is very hard to describe fight scenes without the monotonous he hit him, he hit him back style, but Heath manages it. However in plot the book is severely lacking. I do not mean that the book does not have a plot, but the sequencing, (though not the action) is very predictable and boring. If the author wasn't so good at the action scenes I would ha...more
This book started off fast, very fast. Personally, I was lost in the first chapter. Still, I loved this book. The pace of it though threw me off a lot and made it a longer read. I loved Six, he was a not perfect hero which made me love him. He did things he wasn't proud of and it talks about that, but he overcame them. I have to respect him for that. Through the whole thing, there was action and adventure and suspense. A little too much suspense for me but it was still good. This was a pretty go...more
A fast-paced action-adventure story with a bit of science fiction thrown in. If you like the Alex Rider and/or Maxiumum Ride series you'll probably like this one too. The fight scenes reminded me of video game or TV action --- much more plot than character development. The beginning of the story is a bit confusing because the reader doesn't understand who (or what) Agent Six is for awhile. But if you keep reading, it begins to make sense. There's likely to be a sequel; not everything is wrapped...more
If you are in the mood for action, this is your book. VERY fast paced, with a science fiction setting that made it all the more appealing to me. Genetically engineered superhuman Agent Six of Hearts works for the Deck, which is a vigilante organization dedicated to fighting the many crimes of ChaoSonic, the corporation that has essentially taken over what's left of the world. A bit dark, but the breakneck pacing counters that pretty well. Great for teen fans of the Alex Rider series.
Agent Six is super human who was extras capabilities which help him perform his missions with exact care. However when Six is sent on a mission to uncover the his companies counter part, he finds out that there are others like him that are engineered to be more than the average person.
Straight forward with lot's of action and a nice humorous touch, it's hard to believe that this is a first novel for this other. I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
4 1\2 stars
Straight forward with lot's of action and a nice humorous touch, it's hard to believe that this is a first novel for this other. I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
4 1\2 stars
Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com
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 governmen...more
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 governmen...more
This is an Action book. An Action book with a heavy dose of sci-fi. Personally, I get a little bored with the detailed depictions of fights, but our character in this book is intriguing. He's genetically designed part cheetah, peregrine falcon, bloodhound, shark, elephant, etc., made to be a fighting machine. He's currently living in The City, a landmass surrounded by a high fence and ocean controlled by a corporation called ChaoSonic. He works for an underground organization called The Deck whi...more
The Lab by Jack Heath, is a book about Agent Six of Hearts, an artificially created superhuman, in the Deck, a police organization in the City, the only place in the world that is above water. Agent Six must keep his identity a secret, even as he learns about it, or he will be killed by the very organization he works for.
The Lab has a sequel, Remote Control. I would recommend this book to action fans under the age of twenty.
The Lab has a sequel, Remote Control. I would recommend this book to action fans under the age of twenty.
Sep 15, 2011
Anthony Zanow
added it
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Mostly because it was about a super human 16 year old kid, who works in a secret agent service, that goes around kicking butt. What isn't to like about this kind of story?
I also enjoyed how this was the author's debut book but it was written well, and was left open at the ending to have the possibility of having a sequel being written. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I also enjoyed how this was the author's debut book but it was written well, and was left open at the ending to have the possibility of having a sequel being written. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I've been reading too many teen spy books and this one is not very good.
Better reads: Alex Rider series (first book is Stormbreaker), Spy High Mission One series, or STORM series by E.L. Young.
Better reads: Alex Rider series (first book is Stormbreaker), Spy High Mission One series, or STORM series by E.L. Young.
Not a long book, a ton of action, and yet... kinda boring and taking forever to read.
[edit] Finally finished. Explanations for many, many plot contrivances were weak and the writing chock-full of Tell [don't show]. Ultimately forgettable, but I'll probably work up a 30-second Back Pocket Booktalk for it anyway--as blah as I found it, I'm sure middle-school reluctant readers would appreciate the brisk action-movie plot.
[edit] Finally finished. Explanations for many, many plot contrivances were weak and the writing chock-full of Tell [don't show]. Ultimately forgettable, but I'll probably work up a 30-second Back Pocket Booktalk for it anyway--as blah as I found it, I'm sure middle-school reluctant readers would appreciate the brisk action-movie plot.
This book will appeal to fans of the Alex Rider books, but there are some differences. The main character is not your average teenage boy like Alex; he is a genetically modified super soldier. However, he does have a strong moral code and does what he feels is right. Lots of over-the-top action and thrills. I'll probably read any sequels that may come, but it is not as high on my list as the Alex Rider books.
YA sci-fi thriller. This book was inventive and fairly interesting. I got hooked early on but my interest waned a smidge as things continued. Not the best ending in the world (one of those setting up for a sequel type books), but all in all not a bad read. I was particularly impressed to find that the author wrote this book while in high school - quite an accomplishment!
I really didn't like it. It comibned to bad element of writing techniques. It was really bad. I couldnt stand it. But i had to for a book club. None of the books were good. But this one was the very worst. The ending was awful. He left it way of open. WAY to open. There has to b a sequel for that kind of thing. Its just not right. And im big on endings and becuz it was so bad it brought down the book.
I feel like the idea for this book had a lot of potential to explore the question of what exactly constitutes humanity, and squandered it. Plus it's been done before, as other reviewers have noted (clones, cyborgs, the entire Maxiumum Ride series). The cards motif is incredibly heavy-handed and, as far as I could tell, didn't add anything to the story.
The Lab was an interesting book. However, I found that there was almost too much action in it and not enough character development. Jack Heath clearly sets up for the next novel which I already have preordered. I have given my copy to my students are I am waiting to see what they think before I decide to get a couple for my classroom.
Some pretty clear markers in the writing that this is a first novel, but good concepts.
I didn't feel any empathy for the characters, or much sense of development or differentiation between them. This novel was pretty solidly about the action and the ideas rather than the people, which is fair enough but didn't move me.
I didn't feel any empathy for the characters, or much sense of development or differentiation between them. This novel was pretty solidly about the action and the ideas rather than the people, which is fair enough but didn't move me.
It is an amazing book that all you sci-fi action people will love. It is about this character "Full name" Agent six of Hearts or six as a lot of people call him. coinsadentally he is the most intersting carracter. He is the one that the book revoles around and he does suicidel stuff that no mere human would ever think of doing. I would love to read the next book in the series if I could just find. That is what I think of the book.
I really enjoyed this book and was surprise by how much I liked agent Six of Hearts. The idea of having a 'Deck' of agents is very clever. The action was well written and a bit on the 'can only happen in a action movie film'. I recommend it for a lets escape reality and go on an adventure kind of book.
Agent Six of Hearts is a sixteen year old phenom and superagent for the Deck, who is out trying to defeat the evil Lab. However, his deepest secret is that he himself was a product of the Lab. Long on action, but short on character development. More appropriate for adolescents than adults.
i loved this book! it is one of my top five favs as number 2. i think the endig was spectacular. it really is an amazing book. it has a very good leason which is that you decide who you are, no one else. no matter what you are you have place in the world.
Nov 15, 2008
Andreea
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
boys :P
Shelves:
reviewed,
10th-grade
This book is the very definition of "action". Agent Six of Hearts is not quite human. He is the result of an elaborate experiment, and he is the best agent that the Deck has. In a world where the very air people breath is poison, causing them to barely be able to live past 40, Agent Six is hunted by ChaoSonic. He regards the very people he works with and for as inferior, until he meets Kyntak, a boy his age who matches him in skill and abilities. However, unlike Six, Kyntak acts human, joking ar...more
I really liked this book. It was a little more mature and had a little more depth than the Alex Rider books, but wasn't nearly as mature as the Jason Bourne books. It's a good mixture of the two for older teens. I recommend it.
It's another one of those Sci-Fi stories about the superhuman/clone type peoples-- with a twist of Alex Rider.Six thinks he's invincible until he meets Kyntak-- his match, and possibly, his unknown double-agent boss.
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Jack Heath is the award-winning author of six action books for teens. He started writing his first novel, The Lab, at age 13, and earned a publishing contract for it at 18. Now 25, his books are popular in eight countries. His new book is Hit List.
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“Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.”
—
14 people liked it
“Jump!" Kyntak yelled.
"What?" Six shouted incredulously. It was hundreds of meters to the concrete below.
"Just jump!" Kyntak howled, and he leaped off the fire escape.
With only a split second of hesitation, Six followed him. If all else fails, he thought, I can always land on Kyntak to break my fall.”
—
6 people liked it
More quotes…
"What?" Six shouted incredulously. It was hundreds of meters to the concrete below.
"Just jump!" Kyntak howled, and he leaped off the fire escape.
With only a split second of hesitation, Six followed him. If all else fails, he thought, I can always land on Kyntak to break my fall.”
