Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
A cozy near-future novella about a crew of leftover robots opening their very own noodle shop, from acclaimed sci-fi author Annalee Newitz. An instant USA Today and indie bestseller! Indie Next pick | Library Reads pick | Most Anticipated at Electric Lit, Ms. Magazine, Gizmodo, Autostraddle, Book Riot, IGN, New Scientist, Reactor, and more You don’t have to eat food to know the way to a city’s heart is through its stomach. So when a group of deactivated robots come back online in an abandoned ghost kitchen, they decide to make their own way doing what they know: making food—the tastiest hand-pulled noodles around—for the humans of San Francisco, who are recovering from a devastating war. But when their robot-run business starts causing a stir, a targeted wave of one-star reviews threatens to boil over into a crisis. To keep their doors open, they’ll have to call on their customers, their community, and each other—and find a way to survive and thrive in a world that wasn’t built for them. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Tags
Is Automatic Noodle appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
A cozy, gentle story about sentient robots starting a noodle business in post-war San Francisco. References to a devastating war in the background, but no on-page violence or graphic content. Themes of community, survival, and finding purpose.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include war and class struggle.
Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.
Who'll love this
Teens will enjoy this heartwarming story about robots who band together to run a noodle shop and build community in a world that doesn't expect them to exist.