We’re talking about two kinds of villains, aren’t we? Because the villainy necessary for a comic novel is different from that necessary for an adventure or drama.
In non-comic literature, villains can—and should—be as bad as one can make them, and by “bad” I mean “lethal.” Sauron, Voldemort, Darth Vader—these are the embodiments of absolute evil, and will literally kill your protagonist if at all possible. It’s not only their role, it’s their life’s work. (Which is why Return of the Jedi’s attempt to redeem Luke’s father was such an insult and so ill-conceived. Why? Because he had destroyed billions of lives by blowing up a planet, that’s why. Or am I the only one who finds this to be an objectionable mode of behavior?)
In a comic universe—and especially in a children’s comic universe—you can have villainy. In fact, you have to–every story, novel, movie, etc. needs an antagonist. But these villains cannot be completely competent. They must be seen to be imperfectly evil. Not only must the protagonist not be allowed to die (as, indeed, they don’t die in children’s adventure stories like Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter books, or Star Wars), but the atmosphere must be such that we know the hero is going to be fine. Only then can we feel relaxed enough to laugh.
The taxonomy of villainy might be described thus:
COMEDY is when the hero wins and his friends are okay.
ADVENTURE is when the hero wins but one of his friends dies.
TRAGEDY is when the hero dies.
These are the rules of fictional genres. “Real life” may consist of 
a blend of the comical and the tragical, and adults may be able to make the shift from hilarity to horror as seen in such movies as Bonnie and Clyde or Pulp Fiction. But kids can’t. To be a child (even a smart child) is, by definition, to still be learning the rules. You cannot expect a child (by which I probably mean a reader up to the age of around 15) to be available to laugh if he or she doesn’t feel safely grounded within the rules of comedy.
So the villains in The Templeton Twins Have an Idea are capable of being threatening, but are also—noticeably, from the start–buffoons. It would be interesting to stop reading once John and Abigail are imprisoned in the Deans’ basement, and ask the young listener what he/she thinks will happen next. I doubt that any one would say, “They’re going to die.” They sense, even if they don’t know it, that that would violate the rules. 
More Information:
Other Stops on the Tour:
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Tour Date
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Featured Content
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Blog URL
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Mundie Kids
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10-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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The Children's Book Review
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11-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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There's A Book
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12-Sep
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Q&A with The Narrator
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Watch.Connect.Read
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13-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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Stiletto Storytime
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14-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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Middle Grade Mafioso
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15-Sep
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Q&A with The Narrator
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sharpread
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16-Sep
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Q&A with The Narrator
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The Book Cellar
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17-Sep
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Q&A with author Ellis Weiner
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Mother Daughter Book Club.com
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18-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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Media Darlings
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19-Sep
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Q&A with author Ellis Weiner
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The Book Monsters
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20-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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Karin's Book Nook
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21-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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The O.W.L.
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22-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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The Children's and Teens' Book Connection
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23-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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Pink Me
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24-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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Book Dreaming
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25-Sep
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Guest post from author Ellis Weiner
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dogwood
I am putting this on the running list for my daughter right now. Winning it would be awesome, though! I think she’d love this book.
dogwoodlane (at) suddenlink (dot) net
Tessa
I’ve added this to my to-read list. It looks cute.
Wrighty
I just read and reviewed this too! So cute!
cyn209
this book sounds like one my little cousin Jennifer would enjoy!!!