When I started querying agents seriously last February, the first to respond and ask for a partial was a new agent at a very respected agency. She did read the whole thing, but passed. On my next project, I queried her again, and she again requested a partial -- but passed after the partial. Then I queried (on a different book) another agent at the same agency, who requested partial and full before passing.
On my next book, they passed after the query...but when I started getting a fair amount of interest in that book, I e-mailed them and asked if they wanted another look. They were very nice about it all, but closed the door completely. Sigh. It's good on the one hand, because I *know* they're not the agency for me...but it's hard to hear 'I'm sorry, but although we like your style, your voice doesn't fit with our agency.'
On my next book, they passed after the query...but when I started getting a fair amount of interest in that book, I e-mailed them and asked if they wanted another look. They were very nice about it all, but closed the door completely. Sigh. It's good on the one hand, because I *know* they're not the agency for me...but it's hard to hear 'I'm sorry, but although we like your style, your voice doesn't fit with our agency.'
don't give up!
Fortunately I have a few other queries and one full out right now (the full is out with an editor and an agent, so I'm trying hard not to think about it -- and failing, I might add!) 
