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Rotten School #15
Calling All Birdbrains
Bernie Bridges is the luckiest kid at Rotten School. He wins every game he plays, doesn't get into any trouble, and even finds money! So what's the catch? For the good luck to stick, Bernie has to keep his parrot, Lippy, on his shoulder wherever he goes. Lippy's luck is so powerful that Bernie's friends, Feenman and Crench, want in, too. But the minute they touch Lippy, everything changes—Lippy turns into a bad-luck bird. Now nothing Bernie does goes right. Bad luck follows him wherever he goes. There's only one solution, thinks Bernie. He'll give the bird away to his archrival, Sherman Oaks. But hold on! Now Sherman is having all the good luck in the world. Has Bernie made a big mistake? Can he get both his bird and his good luck back—or has his luck run out for good?
128 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,734 books19.4k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 29, 2024
I originally read the Rotten School series when I was in grade school, so figured I’d reread them while on my R.L. Stine kick again. Obviously they aren’t my level of reading and I’ve been a fan of R.L. Stine since I was little, so I’m not going to say anything bad about this series or this book.
These books are actually a fun little read. They follow Bernie Bridges and all his schemes at Rotten School. There’s a ton of drawings and illustrations that are pretty awesome and cool to see while reading the books. Definitely a quick, short, fun read, that’s totally worth it.
In this book, Bernie has the best luck ever because of his parrot. Or so he thinks. When the bird starts bringing him bad luck, he wants to give it to the luckiest guy in school so that all the bad luck goes off of him. But when the lucky guy gets even more luck from the bird, Bernie wants it back. Follow along as he tries to win the schools games, get his bird back, and avoid getting into trouble the best that he can.
These books are actually a fun little read. They follow Bernie Bridges and all his schemes at Rotten School. There’s a ton of drawings and illustrations that are pretty awesome and cool to see while reading the books. Definitely a quick, short, fun read, that’s totally worth it.
In this book, Bernie has the best luck ever because of his parrot. Or so he thinks. When the bird starts bringing him bad luck, he wants to give it to the luckiest guy in school so that all the bad luck goes off of him. But when the lucky guy gets even more luck from the bird, Bernie wants it back. Follow along as he tries to win the schools games, get his bird back, and avoid getting into trouble the best that he can.
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September 9, 2026Calling All Birdbrains
Bernie has won 20 Uno games in a row. He says it’s because his parrot “Lippy” is a lucky charm. His friends tease him about it, but then have second thoughts when Bernie shows them its because of Lippy he sees a dollar on the ground, and start to try to rub Lippy, hoping his luck witll rub off on them. While doing this tug of war, they accidently pull out his feathers. Which gives him a bald spot.
Bernie gets caught by Headmaster Skruloose (a tough military-style disciplinarian). He demands to know why he’s out at 6 a.m and why he has a parrot. He lies and says he’s president of a Wildlife Club. Skruloose doesn’t buy it. Especially when he sees Bernie’s shirt stuffed with money. Bernie looks to Lippy for help, but he only insults Skruloose making things loose. He guesses he was up all night playing cards and drags him to Upchuck’s office.
Upchuck lectures Bernie for hours and orders him to get rid of Lippy. Bernie realizes Lippy isn’t lucky anymore. Jennifer tackles Bernie and asks him to be her partner for the I.B Rotten Games. He tries to hide, lie, and escape her, but she forces him to agree by snapping his arm behind his back.
Bernie has more bad luck because of Lippy. He trips in front of April May, breaks his glasses, gets caught sneaking in, and is forced to mop floors. Bernie gives Belzer Lippy and tells him to put him in his cage and cover it with a heavy blanket. Bernie never wants to see him again. Belzer tries to pet Lippy and he bites his little finger off. Belzer suggests taking Lippy to Nurse Hanley. When he goes to her office tho, she’s out.
Bernie runs into Sharman showing off his new bike. He invites Bernie to another all-night Uno tournament. Bernie tells him he has to help Mrs. Heinie knit. Angel offers to repair Lippy with “bird powder” (it makes feather’s grow instantly). He applies the powder on Lippy’s bald head. It turns out to be sneezing powder. He finds out it was intentional and concludes Angle really isn’t. Everyone starts to sneeze. Feather’s start flying. Now Lippy is totally bald. Bernie (to the surprise of his friends) tells Lippy he has to go.
He abandons Lippy by the girls’ dorm and returns back to his dorm. Things start to get better. Mrs. Heinie stops and congratulates him for his moping and tells him he deserves an extra dessert. Then on the way to the Dining Hall, Bernie finds a dollar bill in the grass. He gets two desserts. Later, he finds his spare glasses. Angel shows up and claims to have “rescued” Lippy from the girls’ dorm.
Mrs. Heinie shows up and says Bernie did such a good job cleaning up that she wants him to mop the floors every week. Bernie tries to set Lippy free in the R.U. Dumm Field, but when he gets back to his room, Lippy is there back on his perch. Berni then tries to sell the parrot to Sherman who refuses until Bernie tells him he’s good luck. Sherman instantly becomes lucky. He wins twelve straight ping pong matches against Sharonda (a school champion) with Lippy on his shoulder. Sherman also finds twenty dollars on the ground.
During the all-night Uno tournament, Sherman wins every game. Bernie tries to trick Sherman into trading Gassy for Lippy (pretending that Gassy is the real good luck). But when he reaches for Lippy, Gassy has gas and sets off the smoke alarm. Sherman drops to his knees, screaming for Bernie to get the dog out before he dies
Bernie sneaks into Sherman’s room at midnight but gets caught when Lippy squawks loudly. Thanks to Feenman and Crench rubbing Lippy bald again, Sherman’s luck reverses. During the games, Lippy scares Sherman’s horse into a tree (horseback riding). In Archery, Sherman shoots Coach Bunz in the butt. While rowing, Lippy falls into Lake Choking Gass; Sherman dives in after him. When playing horseshoes, Sherman hits himself in the head. While playing volleyball, Sherman gets stuck in the net.
Bernie and Jennifer win every event. Bernie is awarded the trophy. Lippy drops poop on Bernie’s head and makes him slip. He falls and crushes the trophy. Jennifer chases him across the field furiously.
Rating: 5 I don’t know why I didn’t pay attention until this book, but the illustrations actually aren’t bad. It rubbed me the wrong way tho that Bernad could just give up his pet because he wasn’t useful to him anymore, and then wanted him again when he was usueful to someone else (and brought someone else luck).
Bernie has won 20 Uno games in a row. He says it’s because his parrot “Lippy” is a lucky charm. His friends tease him about it, but then have second thoughts when Bernie shows them its because of Lippy he sees a dollar on the ground, and start to try to rub Lippy, hoping his luck witll rub off on them. While doing this tug of war, they accidently pull out his feathers. Which gives him a bald spot.
Bernie gets caught by Headmaster Skruloose (a tough military-style disciplinarian). He demands to know why he’s out at 6 a.m and why he has a parrot. He lies and says he’s president of a Wildlife Club. Skruloose doesn’t buy it. Especially when he sees Bernie’s shirt stuffed with money. Bernie looks to Lippy for help, but he only insults Skruloose making things loose. He guesses he was up all night playing cards and drags him to Upchuck’s office.
Upchuck lectures Bernie for hours and orders him to get rid of Lippy. Bernie realizes Lippy isn’t lucky anymore. Jennifer tackles Bernie and asks him to be her partner for the I.B Rotten Games. He tries to hide, lie, and escape her, but she forces him to agree by snapping his arm behind his back.
Bernie has more bad luck because of Lippy. He trips in front of April May, breaks his glasses, gets caught sneaking in, and is forced to mop floors. Bernie gives Belzer Lippy and tells him to put him in his cage and cover it with a heavy blanket. Bernie never wants to see him again. Belzer tries to pet Lippy and he bites his little finger off. Belzer suggests taking Lippy to Nurse Hanley. When he goes to her office tho, she’s out.
Bernie runs into Sharman showing off his new bike. He invites Bernie to another all-night Uno tournament. Bernie tells him he has to help Mrs. Heinie knit. Angel offers to repair Lippy with “bird powder” (it makes feather’s grow instantly). He applies the powder on Lippy’s bald head. It turns out to be sneezing powder. He finds out it was intentional and concludes Angle really isn’t. Everyone starts to sneeze. Feather’s start flying. Now Lippy is totally bald. Bernie (to the surprise of his friends) tells Lippy he has to go.
He abandons Lippy by the girls’ dorm and returns back to his dorm. Things start to get better. Mrs. Heinie stops and congratulates him for his moping and tells him he deserves an extra dessert. Then on the way to the Dining Hall, Bernie finds a dollar bill in the grass. He gets two desserts. Later, he finds his spare glasses. Angel shows up and claims to have “rescued” Lippy from the girls’ dorm.
Mrs. Heinie shows up and says Bernie did such a good job cleaning up that she wants him to mop the floors every week. Bernie tries to set Lippy free in the R.U. Dumm Field, but when he gets back to his room, Lippy is there back on his perch. Berni then tries to sell the parrot to Sherman who refuses until Bernie tells him he’s good luck. Sherman instantly becomes lucky. He wins twelve straight ping pong matches against Sharonda (a school champion) with Lippy on his shoulder. Sherman also finds twenty dollars on the ground.
During the all-night Uno tournament, Sherman wins every game. Bernie tries to trick Sherman into trading Gassy for Lippy (pretending that Gassy is the real good luck). But when he reaches for Lippy, Gassy has gas and sets off the smoke alarm. Sherman drops to his knees, screaming for Bernie to get the dog out before he dies
Bernie sneaks into Sherman’s room at midnight but gets caught when Lippy squawks loudly. Thanks to Feenman and Crench rubbing Lippy bald again, Sherman’s luck reverses. During the games, Lippy scares Sherman’s horse into a tree (horseback riding). In Archery, Sherman shoots Coach Bunz in the butt. While rowing, Lippy falls into Lake Choking Gass; Sherman dives in after him. When playing horseshoes, Sherman hits himself in the head. While playing volleyball, Sherman gets stuck in the net.
Bernie and Jennifer win every event. Bernie is awarded the trophy. Lippy drops poop on Bernie’s head and makes him slip. He falls and crushes the trophy. Jennifer chases him across the field furiously.
Rating: 5 I don’t know why I didn’t pay attention until this book, but the illustrations actually aren’t bad. It rubbed me the wrong way tho that Bernad could just give up his pet because he wasn’t useful to him anymore, and then wanted him again when he was usueful to someone else (and brought someone else luck).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2018
Seriously. He doesn't want his pet because it's bad luck, then he wants it because it's good luck. Just take the bird away.
August 1, 2026
What a bad luck bird! That's insane!
March 20, 2013
1.This book is called Calling All Birdbrains and it is by R.L. Stine. It is about Bernie B. who wins all the games of uno and wins all the money. His parrot is his good luck charm but when it becomes bad luck, he gives it away and then has to get it back for a tournament. I think that this book should be read.
2.The point of the book was to entertain and not to get rid of a bird that gives you good luck. He was trying to say that if you have something that is lucky keep it and don’t give it away.
3.I felt that it was a good and interesting book. I like the book because it is funny and interesting to read.
4.I would recommend the book to somebody who is bored and has nothing to do. Also to somebody who wants to read a good and kind of short book. They will not need to know anything before reading this book to enjoy it.
2.The point of the book was to entertain and not to get rid of a bird that gives you good luck. He was trying to say that if you have something that is lucky keep it and don’t give it away.
3.I felt that it was a good and interesting book. I like the book because it is funny and interesting to read.
4.I would recommend the book to somebody who is bored and has nothing to do. Also to somebody who wants to read a good and kind of short book. They will not need to know anything before reading this book to enjoy it.
October 16, 2012
This book was not a great book. I would not reccommend to read this book because it just didn't catch my eye. this book was about this kid bernie and his lucky bird. His bird ends up losing its luck. Bernie gives his bird to someone else. That someone else is Sherman, a rich kid Bernie doesn't like. Bernie gave the bird to Sherman so he wouldn't have bad luck any more but it ends up that sherman gets good luck and at the end bernie gets his bird back and he has good luck again. The theme didn't suit my taste.
March 8, 2011
Genre: Modern fantasy, fiction, young reader
I was not impressed with this book. I know the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine is very popular and I thought this new series would be fun to read. The story is not a long one, but I found myself having a hard time getting through it. The print is distracting and and made it difficult for me to read. The story felt choppy to me and I didn't follow it too well. Young readers may enjoy it and find it easier to read than I did.
I was not impressed with this book. I know the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine is very popular and I thought this new series would be fun to read. The story is not a long one, but I found myself having a hard time getting through it. The print is distracting and and made it difficult for me to read. The story felt choppy to me and I didn't follow it too well. Young readers may enjoy it and find it easier to read than I did.
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June 2, 2016I have enjoyed reading all the Rotten School books (well, rereading them), even the bad ones, but I have to say that Calling All Birdbrains is the strangest one as it just doesn't feel like a Rotten School story. Now I'm not saying that is bad thing as I actually like this book. Overall, Rotten School: Calling All Birdbrains is a cute, cleverly written book for kids.
January 1, 2009
This is very funny and goofy!!!!!!!!!!
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December 14, 2009did not read. added so I can swap it out.
January 19, 2010
I liked this book because it was really funny!
Read
February 7, 2010awesome
March 7, 2015
It's really 2.5 stars. I didn't enjoy this nor found it funny. Didn't realize it was part of a series either. :-(
August 1, 2012
Great book. Funny.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews