Clear and Present Danger question

Hi, in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade (1991-1993) our teacher read a book to my class. It was about a boy that as the book went on was in danger and I think trying to get away from someone trying to hurt him. He ends up in a desert mountain area, I think. I remember it going into great detail about how dehydrated he was becoming and maybe even his lips drying and cracking. I think there was a drawing of an old car and maybe a mountain on the cover and the cover may have been red or had a lot of red on it. I don’t remember much else. He ends up surviving and I think the bad guy is caught. There may have even been some kind of ranger for that area. It maybe took place in Arizona or New Mexico. I think he moved to that area from a big city. I think that’s all I can remember. I’ve tried googling, but am not having much luck.