SOLVED. Ex-child star in small town [s]

[Miriam]

I know this is kind of vague and I'm not sure if I have all the details right... but there was a fairly recent book where there was an ex-child star who had to stop acting, I think because she had some sort of supernatural abilities. (Though I'm not sure if this was the case or not.) She moves to a small-ish town where her father was a professor.
I remember a scene where two of the main characters drove to Chicago in a truck. The main character creates some sort of fictitious academic grant as well with her earnings as a young actress.
She acted on some sort of a family show as the youngest, smartest child.

[Rebecca]

How about Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix?

Description from Worldcat:
Sixteen-year-old Lindsay, a former child star whose career ended when she developed the ability to hear what anyone, anywhere says about her and apparently suffered a nervous breakdown, comes to see this as an asset when, after her father's death, she learns that she is not alone.

Searching inside using Google Books seems to confirm all of your other points as well -- father is a professor, they move to Springdale, Illinois for his job, she talks about creating a grant for someone, a trip to Chicago in a truck, etc.

[Miriam]

Rebecca wrote: "How about Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix?

Description from Worldcat:
Sixteen-year-old Lindsay, a former child star whose career ended when she developed..."

I'm pretty sure that's it! Thank you!!

[Rebecca]

You're very welcome!