The central characters in Deb Caletti’s books are teens. Teen readers devour her books.

Booksellers classify the Seattle writer’s award-winning novels as “young adult” – for readers roughly 13 to 18 years old.

Yet when Caletti writes, she doesn’t target her stories to any particular age of readers. Especially not teens.

“I don’t even know that that’s the best thing for my teen readers,” she said in a recent telephone interview. “I don’t want to end up with a caricature.

“I have quite a large adult audience, and a lot of college students. I’m fortunate I have this crossover appeal. My books are a little more layered and sometimes complex, so I think they appeal to a lot of other ages.”

Caletti will speak about her craft and her books at 7 p.m. Thursday at Tacoma Public Library’s main library as part of Teen Read Week 2009.

The critically-acclaimed author has much to discuss.

Since 2002, she’s had six books published, including this year’s “The Secret Life of Prince Charming.” Her seventh book, “The Six Rules of Maybe,” is slated to hit stores in April. She’s writing her eighth book.

She travels the country for speaking engagements. She’s received numerous writing honors, including the Washington State Book Award and the School Library Journal Best, and was a finalist for the National Book Award.

“It’s a lot happening,” the 46-year-old said. “It’s all really wonderful things, all the things that you’d imagine would never happen.”

Tacoma Public Library spokesman David Domkoski said teens like her books because she doesn’t write down to them.

“Caletti does not shy away from exploring challenging subjects with honesty and compassion. Her books tackle coming of age, first love, heartbreak, trust and betrayal, mental illness, vocational passions, tortured familial relationships, and life’s general messiness,” he wrote. “She excels at getting to the heart of the issues teens face and the difficulty of making smart decisions – and the pain of living with bad ones.”

Movies are in her future.

Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen’s film company Vulcan Productions and Foundation Features are producing the first of what they hope will be a series of feature films based on five of Caletti’s novels.

She’s reading a script of the first movie, by Katie Ford, who also wrote the script for the movie “Miss Congeniality.” “What’s been great,” Caletti said, “is that I’ve been able to be such a part of the process.”

She’s even received what she considers a badge of honor: A Texas school banned her first book, “The Queen of Everything,” for sexual situations and profanity. “Oh, my gosh, it seems ludicrous,” Caletti said. “It’s not my job to make a clean world for everyone. It’s my job to portray things as they are. … As a writer, you’re the truth teller of society,”

Success seemed improbable two decades ago, judging from her blog entry, at www.debcaletti.com, about her former “abusive husband.”

“When I was 19, I met a 21-year-old young man who was dark and handsome, mysterious and moody. Yes, friends, the Baaaaad Boy,” she writes in the blog.

They eventually married, a decision that resulted in “years of devastation – emotional, physical, financial – complicated layers of pain and damage that would affect me, our kids, our families and friends.”

Some of her experiences, along with those of the women around her, are fodder for “The Secret Life of Prince Charming.” The fictional work is about a young girl, her sister and half-sister who embark on a road trip to return stolen objects to women who were injured by the girls’ father.

Which experiences are hers? “I won’t ever say,” she said. But, she added, “ I feel it’s really important for young women to realize we can lose ourselves a lot of times in other people. …

“Remember who you are. That’s the tallest order for all of us at any age when we go through challenging times. Hang on to it and ride the rapids.”

Yet for the most part, Caletti says she doesn’t attempt to impart lessons in her books.

“I’m always working from questions and not from answers. In my own work, it’s mostly trying to figure out things for myself. That’s where I start a book.”

Debby Abe: 253-597-8694

debby.abe@thenewstribune.com

Many fun and educational events are scheduled as part of Teen Read Week at the Tacoma Public Library. For information on contests and events, go to www.tacomapubliclibrary.org and click on “Kids & Teens.”

MANGA MANIA BOOKCLUB

A new online manga book club begins for youth 11 to 18 years old. Participants who review manga, which are Japanese comic books and graphic novels, will be entered into a weekly raffle for each review submitted online. Reviews might be published on the library’s Web page. Prizes include anime films, manga books and other manga items.

 • Registration begins Monday online.

MAP OTHER WORLDS CONTEST

Draw the J.R.R. Tolkien or Harry Potter World Map and enter it to compete for a bookstore gift certificate. For youths 11 to 18 years old.

 • Enter now through Oct. 31

FREE CLASS: LEARN TO DRAW MANGA

A professional artist will show 11- to 18-year-olds how to draw Japanese manga cartoons. Paper and pencil provided. Registration required.

Classes are 4 to 5:30 p.m.

 • Monday at Main Library, Olympic Room

 • Tuesday at Wheelock Library

 • Wednesday at Moore Library

N NARUTO AND BLEACH TRIVIA + MAKE CANDY SUSHI

Anime lovers can show off their trivia knowledge of the anime/manga series Bleach and Naruto. Prizes will include wall hangings, posters, books, DVDs, figurines or candy. After the contest, participants will learn to assemble candy sushi. For ages 11 and older.

 • 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Main Library, Olympic Room

 • 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Swan Creek Library

SLEEVE FACING: BEND YOUR REALITY

Youths 12 and older can learn the international trend of sleeve facing – creating an illusion by covering part of the body with a record sleeve and taking a photo. Participants can choose from a variety of record albums and clothing, and a digital photographer will snap their photo. Help will be available to upload the photo to e-mail.

 • 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Main Library, Olympic Room

HARRY POTTER TRIVIA CONTEST

Kids who think they know everything about Harry Potter can compete for prizes. Refreshments served. For ages 11 and older.

 • 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fern Hill Library

 • 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kobetich Library

 • 3 to 4:30 p.m. Friday at Swasey Library

N AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR DEB CALETTI

Deb Caletti, author of numerous teen books including this year’s “The Secret Life of Prince Charming,” speaks and signs books.

 • 7 p.m. Thursday in Olympic Room at the Main Library

ANIME AWESOMENESS: CANDY SUSHI AND R.O.D.

Assemble candy sushi using simple ingredients and watch the anime film “R.O.D. (Read or Die).” Special prizes for participants wearing a “cosplay” outfit, which is dressing as an anime or manga character. Refreshments served. For ages 12 to 18.

 • 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Moore Library

FRIGHT NIGHT AT THE WHEELOCK LIBRARY

Take an after-hours tour of the Wheelock Library, where a ghost supposedly roams at night. See the newly released horror film, “Drag Me to Hell,” rated PG-13. For ages 13 and older. Registration required at Wheelock Library.

 • 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wheelock Library

FACT IS FREAKIER THAN FICTION: LIVING BUG AND REPTILE SHOW-AND-TELL

Participants can trade creepy creature trivia, see huge live bugs and reptiles, and watch the film “Eight Legged Freaks,” rated PG-13. Kids will also create and model their own bug antennae and compete for a prize.

Chocolate-covered ants, barbecued grasshoppers and “non-insectoid” pizza will be served. For ages 13 to 18. Registration required.

 • 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Olympic Room at the Main Library.

Who: Author Deb Caletti

What: Book talk and signing

Where: Tacoma Public Library, Main Library, Olympic Room, 102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Information: www.tacomapubliclibrary.org and www.debcaletti.com