SOLVED. Middle Grade Fantasy - Takes place in England, somewhere near the sea. A young English boy befriends a girl his age (who has ogre/witch ancestry.) Spoilers ahead

[Bella]

The story starts by mentioning fish and chips, a train station, and details of living by the sea. The protagonist happens to meet a girl, who is a witch of some kind, and befriends her. I also remember that a hotel is featured, where an overweight child is constantly being spoiled by his mother with food and sweets. The protagonist may be poor and hungry, which is why this is so prevalent. The mother (and/or her son) also mistreat the protagonist.

In the climax, the young girl gives up and goes to live in this cave with her ogre family because she feels like a failure. The protagonist eventually convinces her to leave with him, and there’s a happy ending. This may be a children’s book.

(Details are fuzzy, I read this when I was in grade school, so some of what I remember may be slightly inaccurate.)

[Bella]

I found it!! It’s called The Secret of Platform 13.

[Rainbowheart]

Glad you found it!

The Secret of Platform 13